GURGAON: A waitress was booked on charges of criminal conspiracy and causing damage by poisoning after a group of customers suffered mouth burns from dry ice that was served to them as mouth freshener at a restaurant in Sector 90.
The incident occurred on March 2 when Manik Goenka was celebrating his birthday at the Laforestta Café with his wife Pritika Rustagi, their friends Deepak Arora and his wife Himani, and Ankit Kumar and his wife Neha Sabharwal, all aged between 25 and 30,and Kumar and Neha’s one-year-old daughter.
After their meal, the waitress offered the group mouth fresheners, but instead served them dry ice granules, which scalded their tongue and palate, according to police and the restaurant.
Five of the six were injured as they consumed the granules.
Three of them were admitted to Aarvy Hospital in the city, and two others have been discharged, as police said on Monday.
According to the complaint, the couples — Ankit Kumar and his wife Neha, Manika Goenka and his wife Pritika Rastogi, and Deepak Arora and his wife Himani -— went to Laforestta Cafe on Mar 2 to celebrate Manika’s birthday.
“After dinner, we were about to leave when the waitress offered translucent granules in a bowl and told us those were mouth fresheners. I didn’t pick one up because I was taking care of my 1-year-old baby,” Ankit, the complainant, said. He said that as the others popped the granules into their mouth, they started feeling a burning sensation.
“They tried spitting it out and attempted to wash it with water. They vomited and started bleeding. They were writhing in pain, seeking help. I called the restaurant staff, but no one helped us,” Ankit said. He alleged that the group was taken to a hospital after cops arrived at the eatery 40 minutes later.
A video of the incident shows a woman using a large piece of ice while spitting out blood, and three others gesturing as they apparently try to ease the burning sensation.
Ankit said he picked up the granules and showed them to a doctor who confirmed that it was dry ice. The police said that a preliminary investigation indicates that the waitress’mistook’ the dry ice for mouth refreshment.
“We came to know that the waitress, by mistake, picked up the pouch containing dry ice instead of mouth fresheners, and offered it to the victims. We have seized the samples of dry ice and sent them for forensic analysis. We will find out why the restaurant has kept dry ice and how the waitress mistook it for a mouth refreshment item,” said inspector Manoj.
An FIR was filed against the waitress on Sunday at Kherki Daula police station under IPC sections 328 (causing hurt by means of poison) and 120B (criminal conspiracy).
Gagan, the manager of Laforestta Café, stated that the waitress made an error. We use dry ice to preserve food. We are cooperating with the police.”
Dry ice is a solidified form of carbon dioxide that is dangerous if consumed because it turns into gaseous form. It can burn the mouth, oesophagus, and stomach if ingested, and in extreme cases, it can rupture the stomach. Restaurants and bars often use dry ice separately while serving certain dishes, for dramatic effect as it emits vapours, and to also keep the item cool.
