Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Oct 7: A viral video showing a rat allegedly found inside a dosa at a hotel in Mumbai has taken an unexpected turn, with the Borivali Police booking two sisters for allegedly attempting to extort money from the hotelier by threatening to file a police complaint and circulate the video further.

The accused have been identified as Mansi Acharya and her sister Kinjal, The Indian Express reported.

According to the complaint, the incident took place on September 24 at Radhakrishna Hotel-Banquet-Fast Food on LT Road in Borivali West. Mansi had reportedly visited the hotel with a child and two men. While they were eating a dosa, a person accompanying her allegedly found a rat in the food.

Mansi allegedly created a commotion at the hotel, called the police and recorded a video of the incident. The video was later circulated on social media and reportedly went viral on September 26.

Following the circulation of the video, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suspended the hotel's licence on September 28, according to the complaint, forcing the establishment to shut down.

The hotelier, Jai Kishore Shah, subsequently alleged that the sisters began demanding money from him. According to his complaint, they threatened to lodge a police complaint and circulate the video further unless he paid them.

The sisters allegedly initially demanded Rs 25 lakh. When Shah said he could not pay the amount, the demand was reportedly reduced to Rs 7 lakh. Shah allegedly paid Rs 1 lakh on September 30.

The accused sisters allegedly continued contacting Shah through WhatsApp and demanding the remaining amount while threatening to approach the police and circulate the video further.

During one meeting, they allegedly claimed that a relative's health had deteriorated after eating the dosa and that they needed money to look after him, according to The Times of India.

On October 5, Shah allegedly agreed to meet the sisters and pay the remaining Rs 6 lakh. Acting on his complaint, the Borivali Police arranged for the meeting to take place at the same hotel.

Mansi and Kinjal allegedly arrived at the hotel to collect the money. However, instead of arresting them, police served notices to the sisters, according to a police officer.

The Borivali Police have registered a case against the two sisters under Section 308 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with extortion.

Further investigation is underway.