On May 31, kitchen supervisor Balwant Kulkarni was on duty when Pavaskar and Palekar entered the kitchen area without permission and were reprimanded and told to leave by duty manager Ambrose Perreira. The duo had thought Kulkarni had complained to Perreira and was upset with the former.

Early the next day, they allegedly attacked Kulkarni in the lobby and stabbed him several times in the back. They also beat him with some kitchen equipment till he fell unconscious. Fellow employees rushed Kulkarni to hospital, where he was operated upon.

Santacruz police registered a case and arrested the two only on June 8, 1999, as both Pavaskar andPalekar were absconding after the attack. They were later released on bail.

Surprisingly, the workers say, the management has issued only a chargesheet to the duo, who has since resumed work. One of the workers told Express Newsline that Pavaskar and Palekar are allegedly terrorising the workers. ``It has become impossible to work because of the constant fear of these two persons. The management must dismiss both,'' he said.

Jaywant Parab, chief of the hotels wing of the Bharatiya Kamgar Sena, says: ``The incident is very serious as the hotel falls under the Union government's jurisdiction. To ensure that theree is no repeat, the management must take action against the two.''

Sunil Kalia, area general manager of the Hotel Corporation of India, which administers Hotel Centaur, says: ``I do not speak to the press.'' In reply to a lengthy questionnaire, Tanvir Haziq, general manager (sales & marketing, business development & public relations) said: ``Appropriate disciplinary proceedings have beeninitiated in the case.'' He failed to state the nature of the action.