Delhi woman goes to 5-star hotel to use washroom, refused access

A woman claimed that she was refused washroom access at a 5-star hotel in Delhi for not being a guest. The video triggered debate over non-guest access, emergency use and hotel security rules.Delhi woman goes to 5-star hotel to use washroom, refused access (Photos: @PinkiePragya/X)New Delhi,Oct 6, 2026 12:03 ISTA woman from Delhi claimed she was denied access to a washroom at a 5-star hotel after going there to use the facility for not being a guest.The video, re-shared on X by user Pragya, showed the woman filming herself as she said she was at a hotel but was not being allowed to use its washroom.She then turned the camera around, showing the name of the hotel as Shangri-La Eros in New Delhi, along with its large premises and infrastructure.“They've built such a huge hotel, and they still don't let people use the washroom,” she said. The post raised questions over whether hotels could deny washroom access to people who are not guests, particularly in an emergency. The caption also cited the Indian Sarais Act, 1867, claiming that the law provided travellers with access to toilet facilities at hotels.Pragya questioned whether being a non-guest automatically meant someone could be refused access and argued that the legal provisions should be considered before simply treating the matter as one of private-property rules. Watch the video here:A woman says she urgently needed to use the washroom, but was reportedly denied entry at a 5-star hotel. And this raises a serious question: does being a “non-guest” mean you can simply be refused in an emergency? India’s old Indian Sarais Act, 1867 does provide for access to toilet facilities in hotels for travellers. So before calling it “private property, their rules,” shouldn’t we first check what the law actually says?— Pinkie (@PinkiePragya) October 5, 2026The video sparked a debate online, with some users arguing that access to washrooms is a basic right and should be available at public places, including malls and hotels, with separate facilities for men and women.Others defended the hotel’s position, pointing to security protocols and suggesting that people should use public washrooms instead.One user argued that allowing non-guests into a hotel could create security concerns and said guests should have a registered entry so they can be tracked if any issue arises.India Today has reached out to Shangri-La Eros New Delhi for a response to the allegation. The article will be updated if and when the hotel responds.- Ends