BENGALURU: The Bengaluru Police have registered a case against Rameshwaram Café owner Raghavendra Rao, his wife Divya Raghavendra Rao, and senior executive Sumanth Lakshminarayan after a 19-year-old customer alleged that he found a superworm in his food at the café’s outlet in Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) Terminal 1. The case includes charges of food adulteration, criminal conspiracy, cheating, and other offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

Customer alleges insect found in pongal at airport café

According to the FIR filed by complainant Nikhil N. Naresh, the incident occurred on July 24 at around 7.42am. Nikhil stated that he had purchased pongal from the Rameshwaram Café outlet when he allegedly discovered a superworm inside his dish. He immediately reported the issue to the café staff, who offered to replace the food. The complainant declined the replacement.

The FIR mentions that several customers at the café recorded videos and took photographs of the incident. After alerting the staff, Nikhil proceeded to board his flight to Guwahati, scheduled for 8.45am.

Complainant denies extortion allegation by café staff

The matter escalated the following day when Nikhil reportedly came across media reports claiming that a café representative, identified as Sumanth BL, had accused him of demanding ₹25 lakh and threatening the owners. Nikhil, however, denied the allegations.

He stated in the complaint that his flight records show he was already onboard by 10.27am on July 24, contradicting the claim that he was involved in any alleged extortion attempt. He also clarified that he had no contact with any of the numbers mentioned in the counter-complaint filed by the café’s representatives.

According to the FIR, the complainant asserted that he did not seek any refund, compensation, or monetary gain, and that the allegations against him damaged his reputation.

Police examine CCTV footage, flight details, and call records

The FIR states that police examined CCTV footage from 7.30–8am on July 24 along with the complainant’s boarding pass, flight documents, and call data records. Based on the preliminary findings, the complaint alleges that serving unwholesome food amounts to a serious food safety violation.

It further accuses the café owners — Raghavendra Rao and Divya Raghavendra Rao — and senior executive Sumanth BL of attempting to mislead the investigation by filing a false extortion case against the complainant.

Multiple BNS sections invoked against café owners

Police have booked the trio under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, including those pertaining to:

  • Adulteration of food
  • Cheating and criminal intimidation
  • Criminal conspiracy
  • Destruction of evidence

Officials at the Bengaluru Airport Police Station are currently investigating the case. Further forensic analysis and food safety examination reports are awaited.

The incident has sparked renewed public scrutiny of food safety standards at high-traffic commercial establishments, especially those operating from transport hubs like airports. The case also comes amid intense competition among restaurant chains for visibility and footfall at KIA, recently highlighted by social media discussions around the so-called “dosa wars” involving major food brands.

A detailed investigation is expected to determine whether the incident resulted from negligence, contamination, or deliberate misconduct, and whether the extortion allegations hold any merit.