A restaurant bill from Chennai’s Perungudi area that appeared to show a separate “gas charge” for cooking fuel recently went viral on social media, triggering
debate over whethereateries had begun passing rising LPG crisis directly to customers. The receipt showed an additional Rs 9.52 listed as “gas charge” along with items such as idli and medu vada. While the country is not facing a nationwide fuel crisis yet, shortages of commercial cooking gas in several cities are forcing eateries to adapt new ways. However, the bill has since been debunked as fabricated. A user on X flagged the image for verification and an AI-based analysis identified several inconsistencies, including an incorrect GST identification number, spelling errors such as “Thar k You,” and formatting issues in the document. These irregularities suggested the bill had been artificially generated.
Speaking to Times Now, M. Venkada Subbu, President of the Tamil Nadu Hotels Association, acknowledged that the hospitality sector is facing a genuine supply crisis but dismissed the viral claim. “Everywhere the shortage of LPG cylinder is there,” he said stressing that restaurants are not allowed to sell or separately charge for cooking gas. “That is wrong message. Nobody is charging like that. It is not allowed by the government also. It is AI they have produced.”
'We are making alternative arrangements'
Subbu said restaurants across the state are trying to manage operations by shifting to alternative energy sources wherever possible. “But we are making alternative arrangements by using the electricity for induction stoves. We are installing induction stoves wherever possible. In the outskirts we are using firewood. We are changing the boilers to the firewood.”
He also pointed to the sharp increase in commercial LPG prices. “That is also there regular price they also from 400 to 800 rupees increase per cylinder that means 19 kg cylinder. Yes sir. Without even black market also it affect the industry heavily.”
The association has raised the issue with both the central and state governments, seeking stable LPG supplies and support for alternative energy options to help restaurants cope with the crisis.
At the same time, Subbu warned that continued fuel price hikes could eventually affect menu prices. “Not only because of the shortage crisis because of the price rise not only in the LPG but also oil price also gone up so there it is unavoidable in the future to increase the prices.”
