Pune: The Pune city police on Saturday registered cases against the managements of two premier star hotels for failing to promptly report foreign-national check-ins, officials said. The action follows audits by the Special Branch (Foreigners’ Registration Office) that showed significant delays in submitting mandatory Form-3 arrival records online.
Cases lodged under Immigration and Foreigners Act
Complaints were filed at two police stations after the Special Branch found hotels had not complied with statutory immigration reporting rules. Two cases were registered under Section 23(B) and Section 23(D) of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, the police said.
At Chatushringi police station, assistant police sub-inspector Vishal Dayanand Borde from the prosecution branch of the Special Branch lodged a complaint against JW Marriott hotel on Senapati Bapat Road. Police records cite an Italian national who checked into the property on June 7 at 19:07 hrs, but the hotel reportedly submitted the Form-3 online only on July 17 at 06:52 hrs, a delay of 39 days.
At Bund Garden police station, woman police constable Ashwini Balasaheb Dhamne of the Special Branch filed a complaint against Hotel Sheraton Grand, near Raja Bahadur Mill Road, Sangamvadi. The report states a Chinese national arrived at the hotel on June 14 at 19:29 hrs, but the hotel recorded the guest in Form-3 on June 28 at 21:18 hrs, a delay of 14 days, according to police records.
| Hotel | Guest nationality | Check-in date & time | Form-3 submission | Delay (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JW Marriott (Senapati Bapat Road) | Italian | June 7, 19:07 hrs | July 17, 06:52 hrs | 39 |
| Sheraton Grand (Raja Bahadur Mill Road) | Chinese | June 14, 19:29 hrs | June 28, 21:18 hrs | 14 |
Hotel response and police stance
Gyanendu Deo Singh, marketing head at JW Marriott, attributed the delay to miscommunication and passport renewal procedures. "
We have done the necessary compliances and the issue is over. There was an issue related to old and new passports related to renewal. There is no discrepancy on our part." The statement was recorded in police documentation, the complaint noted.
The police emphasised the legal obligation on hotels to report foreign guests promptly. Failure to do so can attract action under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, which mandates timely disclosure of arrival particulars to the relevant registration office. The Special Branch conducts periodic audits of hotel records to ensure compliance with these rules.
- Who filed the complaints: ASI Vishal Dayanand Borde (Chatushringi) and WPC Ashwini Balasaheb Dhamne (Bund Garden).
- Legal provisions invoked: Sections 23(B) and 23(D) of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.
- Reported delays: 39 days at JW Marriott; 14 days at Sheraton Grand.
Hospitality industry sources in Pune said hotels are aware of their statutory duties under the Foreigners’ Registration Office but administrative lapses sometimes lead to delayed filings. The Special Branch has in recent months stepped up scrutiny of five-star and high-end hotels where foreign-national stays are more frequent.
For Pune’s civic administration and law-enforcement agencies, timely reporting of foreign arrivals is considered important for security, immigration control and record-keeping. The registered cases will now proceed through the legal process; the police did not disclose whether any arrests or further interim measures were taken at the time of filing.
The action is likely to prompt hotels across the city to review internal processes for handling passports and online Form-3 submission, particularly during busy event and conference periods that attract international guests to Pune.
Local residents and businesses in the hospitality and travel sectors said stricter compliance checks help maintain the city’s standing as a secure destination for international visitors, though they also urged clarity from authorities on timelines and technical support for online reporting platforms.
