Key Update

Police have booked the owners and a senior representative of Rameshwaram Café on charges related to selling unsafe food, criminal conspiracy, and fabricating false evidence, after a customer reported a serious food safety lapse at the café’s Kempegowda International Airport cafe.

The FIR—filed on November 29 at the BIAL police station—names owner Raghavendra Rao, his wife Divya Raghavendra Rao, and senior executive Sumanth Sumanth Lakshminarayan. The complaint was lodged by Nikhil N, who alleged that the café served him contaminated food and later attempted to falsely implicate him.

Worm Found in Meal at Airport Café

The incident took place on July 24 at the Terminal 1 outlet. Nikhil, who had ordered Ven Pongal and filter coffee from the Rameshwaram Café, reportedly discovered a worm in the food. Staff offered a replacement, but he declined due to his flight schedule. Before he left, other customers allegedly photographed the contaminated dish.

Counter-Complaint Found Baseless

The following day, Nikhil learned through media reports that the café had filed a complaint accusing him of threatening its reputation and demanding ₹25 lakh. Police investigations, however, found no evidence of blackmail. Flight records confirmed he was in the air during the time the café claimed he made the threats. Nikhil and his friends denied the allegations, and investigators concluded the counter-complaint was false.

Food Safety Violations at the Centre of the Case

Nikhil’s subsequent complaint termed the worm in his dish a serious food safety violation. He accused the café’s owners and representative of filing a fabricated case to harass and defame him. The case has renewed attention on food hygiene lapses in public eateries, especially in high-footfall locations like airports.

Experts warn that food contamination—such as insects in meals—can lead to gastrointestinal infections and other health risks. Authorities emphasise that strict enforcement of FSSAI food safety standards is crucial to protect consumers and ensure accountability in the food service sector.

Source: NDTV