The Rameshwaram Café has filed a police complaint alleging an extortion attempt at its Kempegowda International Airport outlet, where a group of individuals falsely claimed food contamination and demanded ₹25 lakh in exchange for not releasing a damaging video on social media.
The incident reportedly occurred on the morning of July 24, when five to seven individuals created a public disturbance, alleging that an insect was found in their food. According to the complaint filed by the café’s operations head, the group threatened to circulate a video of the incident unless they were compensated.
Shortly after the commotion, the café staff received a phone call demanding ₹25 lakh in cash to prevent reputational damage to the brand. The management submitted supporting evidence including call records, screenshots of messages, and other documentation to the police.A Zero FIR has been registered under Sections 308(2) and 351(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and the case will be forwarded to the appropriate jurisdiction based on the complainant’s address.
In a statement, Rameshwaram Café founder Divya Raghav dismissed the allegations as baseless and malicious. “We categorically deny that any insect was found in our food. This appears to be a staged act aimed at extortion and brand defamation,” she said. Ms Raghav affirmed the café’s commitment to strict food safety protocols, especially at high-security locations like airports. She added that the brand has faced similar threats in the past and will fully cooperate with authorities to pursue legal action.
