Case registered after group tries to 'blackmail' Rameshwaram Cafe over insect-in-food claim
Bengaluru(PTI): A case was registered on Thursday against a group of individuals for allegedly attempting to malign Rameshwaram Cafe and extort money by staging a false incident of food contamination at its Kempegowda airport outlet.
The Kempegowda international airport police registered an FIR based on a complaint filed by Operations Head of Rameshwaram Cafe.
According to the complaint, the incident occurred on the morning of July 24, when a group of five to seven individuals created a public disturbance, falsely alleging that the food served contained an insect.
The individuals then threatened to circulate the video on social media unless they were compensated, added the complaint.
Shortly after, the team received a phone call demanding Rs 25 lakh in cash to avoid reputational harm to the brand, stated the complaint.
Rameshwaram Café management have submitted call records, message screenshots, and other documentation to the police, requesting immediate legal action against the blackmail attempt.
The case was registered under section 308 (2) and 351 (4) of BNS.
According to police, a Zero FIR was registered and the case will be transferred to the relevant jurisdiction, as per the address of the complainant at the earliest.
A Zero FIR can be registered at any police station, regardless of jurisdiction of the area where a crime took place, and later transferred to the appropriate station for investigation.
Meanwhile, in a statement, Divya Raghav, Founder of The Rameshwaram Café, said, “We categorically deny the baseless accusation that a worm or insect was found in our food.”
According to her, the safety and hygiene of food preparation in Rameshwaram Cafe are non-negotiable.
“We operate under the strictest quality protocols, especially at sensitive locations like airports, where routine audits and hygiene checks are mandatory. This is clearly a case of a staged act with malicious intent to extort money and malign our brand,” she added.
According to Raghav, there have been similar attempts in the past where in different instances customers have put stones, insects in the food but were caught red-handed.
“We will not succumb to intimidation or blackmail. We are fully cooperating with the authorities and will pursue stringent legal action to ensure such unethical acts are exposed and discouraged,” she added.
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Karnataka govt directs municipal corps to regulate, prohibit pigeon feeding
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has issued directions to municipal corporations across the state to regulate and prohibit feeding pigeons in public places, citing serious public health concerns.
Deputy Secretary to Government V Lakshmikanth has written to the Urban Development Department requesting it to issue directions to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and all municipal corporations to take immediate steps to implement the measures.
In an official note dated December 16 issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department and released to the media on Wednesday, the department said uncontrolled feeding of pigeons in public places has resulted in large congregations of birds, excessive droppings and serious health concerns, particularly respiratory illnesses linked to prolonged exposure to pigeon droppings and feathers such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and other lung diseases.
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"The commissioner, the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the Commissioners and chief officers of other municipal corporations shall take necessary action to mitigate the causes of dangerous disease spread by pigeon and enforce specified guidelines in their respective jurisdiction," the note said.
According to the department, these include a prohibition on feeding pigeons or causing pigeons to be fed in areas where it may cause nuisance or pose a health hazard to the public. Pigeon feeding shall be permitted only in designated areas in a controlled manner, subject to certain conditions.
"The designated areas may be selected in consultation with stakeholders. The responsibility for upkeep of the designated areas and compliance to the directions shall be taken up by some charitable organisation or an NGO. The feeding in designated areas shall be permitted only for some limited hours in the day," it said.
The note further stated that authorised officers of local authorities shall issue on-the-spot warnings and may impose fines for violation of the order, or lodge complaints to prosecute offenders under Sections 271 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 272 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
It also directed local authorities to conduct public awareness campaigns, including the display of signboards, banners and digital messages, explaining the health hazards associated with pigeon droppings and feathers, the content of the regulatory directions and penalties for violations, and alternative humane methods of bird conservation that do not endanger public health.
