A complaint about a dead rat found in a dosa at a Mumbai eatery has taken a new turn, with the hotel owner alleging an attempt to extort a large sum of money.
On September 24, Mansi Acharya visited Radhakrishna Hotel in Borivali along with two men and a child. She later alleged that a small dead rat was discovered inside a Mysore Masala Dosa ordered at the table. According to her account, her brother had already taken a few bites of the dosa when he found the rodent, became severely shocked and immediately vomited. She reported the matter to Borivali Police Station.
After a video of the incident circulated on social media, the Food and Drug Administration suspended the hotel’s licence on September 28. The owner said the episode brought the establishment to the verge of closure.
Shortly afterwards, the hotel owner began receiving phone calls threatening to spread the video further. The callers also allegedly contacted his relatives and continued circulating information about the incident. A demand of Rs 25 lakh was made as compensation. After repeated calls that the owner described as mental harassment, a settlement figure of Rs 6 lakh was reached.
On September 29, the owner lodged a formal complaint with Borivali police. By that time, Rs 1 lakh in cash had already been handed over to the caller. Police set a trap and arranged for the woman to collect a further Rs 6 lakh. She was caught red-handed while accepting the amount.
The primary accused has been identified as Mansi Amit Acharya, 36, a resident of Gorai in Borivali—the same woman who had filed the original complaint about the rat. Legal proceedings have been initiated, and police are examining the roles of any other individuals involved in the case.