FIR against owners, representative of Rameshwaram Cafe for selling noxious food
Bengaluru (PTI): The owners and a representative of popular eatery Rameshwaram Cafe have been booked on charges of selling noxious food, criminal conspiracy and fabricating false evidence, among other offenses, police said on Monday.
Following a complaint lodged by Nikhil N, who alleged serious food safety violation and subsequent attempt to defame him through a false counter-complaint, the FIR was registered against the eatery's owner - Raghavendra Rao, his wife Divya Raghavendra Rao and senior executive Sumanth Lakshminarayan at the BIAL police station on November 29, they said.
The incident occurred on July 24 this year at terminal 1 of Kempegowda International Airport. Nikhil was at the airport to board a flight to Guwahati, police said.
According to the FIR, at the Rameshwaram Cafe's terminal 1 outlet, Nikhil ordered 'Ven Pongal' and filter coffee. He allegedly found a worm in the food. He immediately alerted the staff, who offered to replace the dish, but he refused as he wanted to board the flight.
While other customers took a photo of the worm, Nikhil claimed he left the cafe without creating any problem and boarded his flight, it said.
The following day, Nikhil learnt through media reports that a case had been lodged against him in Bengaluru accusing him of threatening the cafe's brand reputation and demanding Rs 25 lakh, the FIR stated.
During an investigation into the complaint lodged by the representative of the cafe, Nikhil and his friends were summoned for questioning, police said.
In the complaint, Nikhil denied making any financial demands or even seeking a refund and asserted that his flight records prove he was airborne at the time cited in the cafe's complaint, making the allegations false.
Police also later clarified that no evidence was found against Nikhil and his friends that they were involved in blackmail or extortion.
Later, Nikhil lodged a counter-complaint and termed the incident a serious food-safety violation. He accused the cafe owners and the representative of filing a false case against him with the intention of defaming and harassing him.
Based on the complaint, a case was registered under Sections 61 (criminal conspiracy), 123 (causing hurt by means of poison, etc., with intent to commit an offence), 217 (false information, with intent to cause public servant to use his lawful power to the injury of another person), 228 (fabricated false evidence) 229 (punishment for false evidence), 274 (adulteration of food or drink intended for sale) and 275 (sale of noxious food or drink) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the matter is under investigation, police added.
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SIT formed to probe second sexual assault case against expelled Cong MLA Mamkootathil
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe a second case of sexual assault against expelled Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, police officials said on Friday.
The SIT will be led by G Poonguzhali, Assistant Inspector General at the Police Headquarters.
The team also includes a DSP rank officer and sub-inspectors, officials added.
The second sexual assault complaint was received by the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee, which it forwarded to the state police chief.
ALSO READ: Cong expels rape-accused MLA Mamkootathil from party's primary membership
Following this, the Crime Branch registered a case and launched an investigation.
Crime Branch officials said the email complaint contained only the sender's email ID and no other contact details.
As part of the probe, they have sent a reply email requesting that the complainant contact them and provide her statement.
The complainant has alleged that she was sexually assaulted under the false promise of marriage, a Crime Branch official said.
However, details such as the location and date of the alleged incident are not currently available to the police.
The SIT will attempt to trace the sender of the email and record her statement, which is crucial for further investigation, the officer said.
Mamkootathil was expelled from the Congress party on Thursday after a court here rejected his anticipatory bail petition in another rape case.
Police said he is currently absconding, and a manhunt is underway in Kerala and neighbouring states.
