“This Is Clearly A Case Of Staged Act,” The Rameshwaram Cafe Denies Food Contamination; Alleges Extortion Bid For ₹25 Lakh

A customer allegedly found a worm in a serving of Pongal at The Rameshwaram Cafe outlet at Kempegowda International Airport and made allegations of food contamination. The cafe has now released a press statement denying the allegations and has also filed a police complaint. Here’s more to it.

The Rameshwaram Cafe Files Police Complaint Against False Allegations 

 

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The Rameshwaram Cafe, which is a popular chain of South Indian restaurants in Bengaluru, was recently under fire. A customer had allegedly discovered a worm in a serving of Pongal at its airport outlet, raising concerns about food hygiene. He also claimed that the staff initially tried to cover up the issue, but later offered him a refund.

The restaurant has now issued a press release on its official Instagram account, clarifying its side of the story. They have officially filed a police complaint against a group of individuals who, according to them, staged a false incident of food contamination. As per the brand’s operations head, the incident took place on the morning of July 24 2025, when a group of five to seven people tried to create a public disturbance. Not only that, but they also allegedly threatened to circulate videos of the food containing a worm on social media. The men said they would do so unless they were compensated.

Also Read: Man Finds Worm In Rameshwaram Cafe’s Pongal At Bengaluru Airport; Owners Respond

Is It Blackmail Or A Complaint?

In their statement, The Rameshwaram Cafe also claimed that their team received a phone call from the group, demanding ₹25 lakh in cash to avoid “reputational harm to the brand”. The cafe has now submitted call records, message screenshots, and other supporting documents to the police. They are now requesting legal action against this blackmail attempt.

Denying the allegation of food contamination, Divya Raghav, founder of The Rameshwaram Cafe, also stated, “We categorically deny the baseless accusation that a worm or insect was found in our food. The safety and hygiene of our food preparation 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.”

Other Defamation Attempts Have Been Made In The Past

Divya Raghav also added, “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.”

Many of their followers came out in support of the cafe. They said that people often target those who are high on success. Some even commented that there are individuals who create false allegations, just to tarnish a brand’s name.

Also Read: Jyotiraditya Scindia Visits Bengaluru’s Iconic Rameshwaram Cafe; Enjoys Filter Coffee, Dosa & More

The cafe has now filed a police complaint. Let’s see what happens next.

Cover Image Courtesy: @therameshwaramcafe/ Instagram