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Zomato Manager Tells Kannada Staff To Learn Hindi Or Leave, Sparks Outrage
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News18•07-10-2026, 09:55
Zomato Manager Tells Kannada Staff To Learn Hindi Or Leave, Sparks Outrage
- •A language controversy erupted in Bengaluru after a Zomato shift manager allegedly told Kannada-speaking employees to learn Hindi or leave their jobs.
- •The viral video from a warehouse in Madanayakanahalli sparked protests by pro-Kannada groups and a suo motu police case against the manager, Ashok Muttayy.
- •Muttayy was briefly taken into custody and later released an apology video expressing regret over his remarks.
- •The incident has reignited intense online debates surrounding workplace communication, linguistic discrimination, and the respect for local languages.
Key Questions Answered
A language row erupted after a 31-year-old Zomato shift manager named Ashok Muttayy allegedly told Kannada-speaking employees to learn Hindi or leave their jobs. A video of the exchange near Nelamangala went viral, prompting outrage and protests from pro-Kannada organizations.
Following protests by pro-Kannada groups outside the facility and the local police station, authorities registered a suo motu case against the manager, Ashok Muttayy, who was also briefly taken into custody. Muttayy later released an online video expressing regret and apologizing for his conduct.
The incident occurred at a Zomato-rented warehouse located in Madanayakanahalli near Nelamangala in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
