Bengaluru Zomato Agent Viral Video Sparks Fierce Debate

New Delhi, December 22, 2025: In a social media climate where the gig economy is frequently under the microscope, a new viral video from Bengaluru has sparked an intense debate over the fine line between professional duty and human empathy.

The video, posted by a Zomato delivery agent named Arjun Sethi, documents a frustrating delivery experience at a high-end gated villa community in the city. The incident, which has garnered millions of views since being uploaded on December 21, 2025, has left the internet divided on who was truly at fault.

The Incident: A Long Walk to the Doorstep

The conflict began when Sethi arrived at the entrance of a luxury residential complex. According to Sethi, the security guards refused to let him enter the premises with his bike, a common policy in many of Bengaluru’s upscale “villa” societies to maintain peace and safety.

This left Sethi with a 500–600 meter walk (nearly half a mile) just to reach the customer’s house. In the video, Sethi explains that he requested the customer to meet him halfway to save time and physical effort. However, the customer reportedly refused, insisting on “doorstep delivery” as per the app’s promise.

“The company says to go and do whatever the customer asks. If they ask to deliver it to the room, do that too,” Sethi remarked in the video, visibly exhausted.

The delivery agent expressed deep disappointment, not just at the walk, but at the customer’s perceived “rude” attitude. He claimed that after the long trek in the heat, the customer did not offer so much as a glass of water or a word of thanks, instead treating him with cold indifference.

A Divided Internet: Job vs. Humanity

The video quickly became a flashpoint for two opposing viewpoints on social media:

1. The “Service First” Argument

Many users sided with the customer, arguing that “doorstep delivery” is exactly what they pay for. With rising delivery fees, platform fees, and “handling charges,” these users believe the agent is contractually obligated to complete the delivery to the door, regardless of the internal distance of the complex.

• Common Refrain: “If I have to walk 600 meters to the gate, why am I paying for delivery?”

2. The “Empathy First” Argument

Conversely, a large section of netizens rallied behind Sethi, calling for more “human decency.” Supporters argued that while it is technically his job, expecting a worker to walk over a kilometer (round trip) while their bike—and other potential orders—sits at the gate is “inhumane.”

• Common Refrain: “Rules are for robots; humans should have the empathy to see when someone is struggling.”

The Larger Picture: The Gig Economy Struggle

This incident is not isolated. It highlights a growing tension in urban India between the convenience of “quick commerce” and the physical toll on the workers who power it. Earlier this month, other videos surfaced showing delivery agents working 15-hour shifts for meager earnings, further fueling the fire of the “worker rights” movement in the gig sector.

While Zomato has yet to issue an official statement regarding this specific interaction, the company has historically balanced its stance between supporting its “delivery partners” and maintaining high service standards for customers.

As Bengaluru continues to expand with massive gated communities, the “last-mile” delivery problem seems to be shifting from the city’s traffic-clogged streets to the very driveways of its residents.