Mumbai Comedian's Plea for Assistance Goes Viral as Ex-landlord Withholds Deposit, Police Help

A Mumbai-based comedian recently turned to the internet seeking assistance, claiming that his former landlord had failed to refund the security deposit despite promises to do so. Kashyap Swaroop shared screenshots of his repeated pleas and reminders to the landlord on ‘X’ (previously Twitter). In one post, Swaroop stated, “My landlord asked me to vacate my home before termination of lock-in period. He has yet to refund 60% of my security deposit despite me vacating the house in excellent condition. Are there any lawyers who can help recover the rest? He is avoiding my calls and messages.”

The initial screenshot of their WhatsApp chat showed Swaroop reminding the landlord about the refund and, frustrated, even warning of legal action if necessary. The landlord’s response, “Pls do what you have to do. Thanks,” prompted Swaroop to share it with the caption, “Landlords are on a massive ego trip. Any help appreciated,” along with the ‘X’ handle of the landlord.

The post quickly went viral, accumulating over 740K views on the platform. Numerous comments offered advice on what Swaroop could do. One user cautioned, “Never hand over keys without full refund,” while another suggested, “You may have vacated / emptied the house. But the possession may still be with you. You can tell this to landlord and ask him not to disturb your possession. Go put a lock on the door outside and send him a message.”

Also Read: Tenant’s Viral ‘Kidney for Sale’ Poster to Pay Security Deposit in Bengaluru Has a Funny Catch

Eventually, after the post went viral and Swaroop sought help from Mumbai Police, the landlord returned the deposit.

Swaroop expressed gratitude in an update, saying, “Thanks to everyone who helped, shared their experiences, and gave me some solace here.” He shared a longer backstory involving issues with electric vehicle (EV) awareness, unethical CCTV monitoring, and intimidation. Despite these challenges, Swaroop found closure after Mumbai Police assisted in resolving the matter, referring to them as the ‘silver lining’ of Mumbai.