A consumer commission in Puducherry has held a restaurant liable for serving contaminated food after a dead insect was found in a plate of biriyani and directed it to compensate the customer while also providing 10 free plates of biriyani, TOI reported.
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Puducherry, comprising S. Mouttouvel (President), A.S. Suvitha (Member) and G. Arumugam (Member), ruled that serving contaminated food amounted to a deficiency in service under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
Complaint stemmed from insect found in biriyani
According to a LiveLaw report quoted by TOI, complainant P. Sundarakumara Manikandan and his friend Mohammed Niyasudeen visited Briyani & Co. on December 8, 2025, where they allegedly found a dead insect in the biriyani served to them.
The complainant recorded videos and took photographs of the food, alleging that the incident reflected unhygienic conditions at the restaurant.
He claimed the experience caused mental agony, concerns about possible health complications and a loss of trust as a consumer. Seeking compensation of Rs 1.30 lakh under various heads, including health risk, negligence, mental agony and advocate fees, he later issued a legal notice demanding compensation and corrective measures.
Dissatisfied with the restaurant's response, he approached the consumer commission alleging deficiency in service.
Restaurant failed to contest proceedings
The commission noted that despite receiving notice, the restaurant did not appear before the forum or contest the complaint. Consequently, the case proceeded ex parte.
While assessing the evidence, the commission observed that although the photographs lacked clarity, the video recording clearly established the presence of a dead insect.
"Though the Ex. C2 photographic evidence lacks clarity, the video recording contained in M.O.1 unequivocally reveals the presence of a dead insect, which, upon careful perusal, appears to be a dead fly," the commission observed.
Commission notes contradiction in restaurant's stand
The commission also examined the restaurant's response to a Google review posted by the complainant. In that response, the establishment acknowledged the incident, apologised, described it as an isolated occurrence and assured corrective action.
The commission found this position inconsistent with the restaurant's legal reply, in which it denied liability.
"The contradictory stand taken by the Opposite Party denying the incident in the reply notice while admitting and apologizing for the same in the public domain clearly demonstrates inconsistency and undermines their credibility," the commission observed.
Compensation and free biriyani ordered
Holding the restaurant responsible for serving unsafe and contaminated food, the commission directed Briyani & Co. to pay Rs 10,000 as compensation for mental agony and deficiency in service, along with Rs 3,000 towards litigation expenses.
The commission also ordered the restaurant to provide the complainant with 10 plates of freshly prepared Hyderabadi Chicken Biriyani free of cost. The food is to be supplied at the rate of two plates per week over five consecutive Sundays, beginning within two weeks of receipt of the order and in compliance with food safety standards.
