What began as a much-anticipated honeymoon in the Andaman Islands for a Kerala-based army personnel has spiraled into a prolonged legal tussle, after he accused a local travel agency of cheating, breach of trust and unfair trade practices. Authorities in South Andaman have confirmed that a preliminary inquiry has been completed and an FIR is being drafted against the proprietor of M/s White Shell Travels, a Havelock-based agency.
The complainant, Akilesh M, son of K. Muralimohan from Palakkad, Kerala, currently serves with the Defence Security Corps Records of the Indian Army in Kannur. In his written complaint to the Station House Officer of Pahargaon Police Station, he alleged that his December 2024 honeymoon was marred by a last-minute change of accommodation without consent.
According to Akilesh, the couple had booked their package through Travel Triangle, an online booking platform that connected them with multiple local agencies. Among them, White Shell Travels, operated by proprietor Angshuman Roy responded first and offered a package described as budget-friendly but inclusive of four-star facilities. The package hinged on a two-night stay at Ocean Tree Resort and Spa, Havelock, advertised as a four-star property. The agency’s representative, identified as Pinky Roy, assured them of this accommodation, which convinced the couple to finalise the deal.
The complaint states that after boarding a ferry from Sri Vijaya Puram to Havelock on 9 December, Akilesh received a WhatsApp message from the representative informing him that due to “technical issues,” the booking had been shifted to NK Eco Resort. He alleged that no prior notice was given and that upon arrival, the driver assigned by the agency threatened that they could either accept the new arrangement or make alternative arrangements on their own, warning that most properties were already full owing to peak season.
Stranded with limited cash and no immediate alternatives, the couple reluctantly checked into NK Eco Resort. Akilesh later described this as a deliberate act to leave them helpless and accused the agency of fraudulent intent for unlawful profit. He pointed out that the price gap between Ocean Tree Resort and NK Eco Resort during the season was about Rs 6,000 per night, amounting to a loss of Rs 12,000 over two nights.
Repeated efforts to contact White Shell Travels and Travel Triangle reportedly went unanswered. Akilesh also highlighted a series of negative Google reviews against White Shell Travels, claiming a pattern of similar complaints by other tourists. To pursue justice, he not only filed a police complaint but also approached the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Palakkad, Kerala. His consumer case names both Travel Triangle and White Shell Travels as respondents and seeks compensation for financial loss, breach of contract, and mental agony.
In his letter, Akilesh urged action to prevent future tourists from facing similar ordeals. “Strict action against such agencies is necessary to safeguard visitors to the Andaman Islands,” he wrote.
Police sources confirmed that based on his complaint, a preliminary inquiry was completed against 42-year-old Angshuman Roy, son of R.N. Roy, resident of Garacharma. The case, now before both law enforcement and consumer authorities, has raised wider questions about accountability in the tourism industry of the islands.
As the legal process unfolds, the incident highlights the risks faced by tourists who rely on local agencies for travel arrangements. The outcome of this case will likely set a precedent for how complaints against travel operators are handled in the Union Territory’s growing tourism sector.
