A Mumbai hotelier faces a ₹25 lakh extortion demand after a complaint of a rat in food led to their restaurant’s suspension.
The owner of Ramakrishna Hotel in Borivali, Mumbai, has allegedly become a victim of extortion following a controversial incident involving a complaint about food hygiene. The complaint, made by a customer named Manasi Acharya, claimed her brother discovered a dead rat inside a Mysore Masala Dosa during a family outing on 28 September. Acharya stated that her brother began to vomit upon finding the rat, prompting her to report the matter to the Borivali Police Station.
The incident took a serious turn when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suspended the hotel’s licence on the same day, following the rapid circulation of the story online. According to the hotelier, the fallout from this incident has severely impacted his business operations.
Shortly after the complaint, the hotel owner reportedly began receiving threats related to the matter. He stated that the individual connected to the complaint had also reached out to his family members, disseminating information about the incident. Initial demands for extortion started at ₹25 lakhs but were subsequently lowered to ₹6 lakhs through persistent phone calls.
On 29 September, the hotel owner lodged a formal complaint with the police, at which point he had already paid ₹1 lakh to the caller. An operation was launched by the police, leading to the arrest of the perpetrator, identified as Manasi Acharya. She was caught in the act of collecting the remaining amount sought in the extortion scheme.
Legal proceedings have been initiated against Acharya, while investigations continue to uncover the involvement of other parties connected to this case. The situation has attracted significant media attention, raising concerns about food safety and extortion practices in the hospitality industry.
