OlyPub, the famous restaurant of Kolkata, issued a public apology today, February 1, after one of its waiters was arrested over allegations of hurting religious sentiments, an incident that has since sparked a wider debate on policing standards and proportionality under the West Bengal government.
In its statement, OlyPub said, “On the evening of 30th January 2026, one of our waiters made a very serious but unintentional error while serving. It was a genuine mistake with no harm intended. We are truly sorry for his mistake and apologise profusely for inadvertently hurting our customers' sentiments."
Olypub claimed that it is built on a foundation of respect for all - irrespective of caste, creed, religion or gender.
The statement continued, "We are proud of our 80-year legacy and renew our commitment to treat all our patrons and staff with respect and dignity always. We are truly humbled by the immense support we have received from our well-wishers and thank every one of you for standing by us at this time.” The statement concluded, “We assure you of our best, always.”
The apology follows the arrest of a waiter from the Park Street restaurant on Saturday after Bengali actor and social media influencer Sayak Chakraborty alleged that he was mistakenly served beef instead of mutton steak.
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What happened at Olypub?
According to the complaint, Chakraborty and his companions had visited the well-known pub on Friday night and ordered a mutton steak. They alleged that cow meat was served instead, which they consumed unknowingly. The matter reportedly came to light when another mutton steak was placed on the table despite only one steak having been ordered.
Following the complaint, the waiter was arrested under Section 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) on charges of hurting religious sentiments. To avoid any potential unrest, OlyPub was shut on Saturday, January 31.
