Mumbai: Mumbai Police have registered an FIR and launched an investigation against two sisters who allegedly demanded Rs 7 lakh from a restaurant owner in exchange for not circulating an old video purportedly showing a dead rat in a food dish or filing a police complaint against him, an official said.

According to police, the sisters had visited the restaurant in Borivali in September. During their meal, a dead rat was allegedly found in a food dish. A video of the incident was recorded and authorities were subsequently alerted, the official said.
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Restaurant licence suspended after video goes viral

The video later went viral on social media, following which the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suspended the restaurant’s licence on September 28, forcing it to shut down.

The restaurant owner later approached the police, alleging that the sisters had threatened to file a formal complaint and circulate the video unless he paid Rs 25 lakh.
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Rs 7 lakh deal, Rs 1 lakh allegedly paid

Police said the demand was eventually negotiated down to Rs 7 lakh.

The restaurant owner allegedly paid Rs 1 lakh as an advance on September 30, while the sisters subsequently demanded the remaining Rs 6 lakh through WhatsApp between October 1 and 5, police said.

The owner meanwhile approached the police, who laid a trap at the restaurant when the sisters arrived to collect the remaining amount.

Instead of arresting the two women, police served them notices, an official said.

A case has been registered under Section 308 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for extortion. Further investigation is underway.

(With PTI inputs)