Kunnamangalam hotel owner alleges conspiracy over insect-in-food row
A Kunnamangalam hotel owner has complained to police that three men planted an insect in food and demanded ₹2 lakh, even as one of the accused denies the charge.
A dispute over an insect allegedly found in food served at a hotel in Kunnamangalam has taken a new turn, with the establishment's owner filing a police complaint that three men deliberately placed the insect in the meal.
The owner, Rafiq, has alleged that the three men dined at the hotel late on September 12 and brought the insect with them, slipping it into the food before picking a quarrel. On Friday, September 18, he handed over CCTV footage to the police that he says backs his account.
The complaint follows the circulation of videos on social media purporting to show an insect in food served at the hotel. Food Safety officials inspected the premises the next day, after which the hotel was shut. It was allowed to reopen once the owner produced the required food safety certificates.
Rafiq has further alleged that the three men sought ₹2 lakh from him as compensation after the incident. One of those named in the complaint, Anwar, a resident of Kalaranthiri Vattathampoyil in Koduvally, has rejected the allegations. He has claimed that the CCTV footage submitted by the hotel owner has been edited.
Police have opened an investigation on the basis of Rafiq's complaint. Neither the hotel owner's allegations nor the counterclaim about the footage has been established so far.
In the meantime, a local coordination committee of the Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi held a protest march in Kunnamangalam town, pressing for action against those accused of creating a disturbance at the hotel. The committee said it suspected attempts to damage the hotel owner's reputation and to blackmail him for money.