Rameshwaram cafe owners booked over worm-infested food complaint

Bengaluru police booked Rameshwaram Cafe owners and executive after a customer alleged worm‑infested food; FIR cites food safety, false info, and conspiracy

The city police have registered a case against Rameshwaram Cafe owner Raghavendra Rao, his wife Divya Raghavendra Rao, and senior executive Sumanth Lakshminarayan following allegations of food safety violations and criminal conspiracy.

 The complaint stems from an incident on July 24, when Nikhil N, a customer from Marathahalli, claimed he was served worm-infested Ven Pongal at the cafe’s Terminal 1 outlet in Kempegowda International Airport. Although staff offered to replace the dish, Nikhil declined due to his flight schedule. Other diners captured videos and photographs of the contaminated food, which later circulated widely.

 In response, the cafe’s operations head, Sumanth, filed a case accusing a group of customers of blackmail and demanding Rs 25 lakh. However, Nikhil denied any involvement, producing call records to support his claim. Police clarified that neither Nikhil nor his friends were connected to the suspect arrested in the extortion case.

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 Nikhil subsequently lodged a counter-complaint against the cafe management, accusing them of intimidation and defamation. His lawyer argued that the initial police response failed to adequately address the food safety issue, leaving their client exposed to harassment.

 Following intervention by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northeast), an FIR was registered against the Raos and Sumanth under sections related to selling noxious food, providing false information, and conspiracy. Notices have been issued to the accused for questioning, and officials have assured a detailed investigation after recording statements.

 The cafe has declined to comment on the matter, while its operations head remains unreachable. The case now involves multiple allegations, ranging from food safety lapses to defamation and conspiracy, intensifying scrutiny on the popular eatery’s practices.

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