In a shocking incident, 35-year-old lawyer Rajeev Shukla, hailing from Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, found himself hospitalized after an appalling discovery in his vegetarian meal from Barbeque Nation in Worli, Mumbai.

The incident occurred on January 8th, 2024, during Shukla’s visit to Mumbai when he placed an online order for a Classic Veg Meal Box Regular. Little did he expect that his meal would include an unexpected ‘extra protein’ – a deceased rat and cockroaches found in the Dal Makhani.

Expressing his dismay, Shukla, who identifies as a Brahmin and a pure vegetarian, shared his ordeal on social media, posting images of the dead rat floating in his meal. “I wanted to explore Mumbai, and so I did, coming all the way from Prayagraj, but possibly, this might be my last trip,” he stated.

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Following the consumption of the contaminated food, Shukla experienced severe gastric distress, leading him to seek urgent medical attention at B Y L Nair Hospital. Despite notifying Barbeque Nation via email about the contamination issue, Shukla claimed that no representative from the restaurant visited him at the hospital, leaving him to bear the medical expenses.

Barbeque Nation’s response, as shared by Shukla, appeared lackadaisical, with a statement from ‘Manoj CRS Team, Barbeque Nation,’ expressing apologies but not offering tangible assistance. Unsatisfied with the response, Shukla took matters into his own hands and filed a First Information Report (FIR) against the owner, manager, and chef of Barbeque Nation at Nagpada Police Station six days later.

Shukla, committed to transparency, shared visuals of the official documentation on social media. As of now, there has been no significant update in the case. The incident raises concerns about food safety standards and accountability in popular eateries, prompting a broader discussion on the responsibilities of food establishments in ensuring consumer safety.