Dhaba owner, cook arrested for spitting on bread

The owner of a dhaba in Sector 12 and a cook employed by him were arrested on Wednesday, after a video in which the cook could be seen spitting on rotis (bread) before putting them in a tandoor, the police said

Published on: Apr 14, 2021, 23:40:52 IST

By Leena Dhankhar, Gurugram

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The owner of a dhaba in Sector 12 and a cook employed by him were arrested on Wednesday, after a video in which the cook could be seen spitting on rotis (bread) before putting them in a tandoor, the police said.

The incident was recorded on Tuesday and a case filed after a local news reporter lodged a complaint, the police said.

Satyander Singh, station house officer of Sector 14 police station, said that they received the complaint along with a video in which the cook could be seen spitting on the rotis, with the owner standing right next to him. “Both have been arrested from Al Sofa hotel in Sector 12 and they did not give any clarification why they were doing this. They were produced before the district court and sent to 14-day judicial custody,” he said.

The cook has been identified as Usman Malik, of Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, and the owner as Mohammad Ibrahim, of Delhi.

The local news reported, who filed a complaint, said, “I showed him the video which was shared on social media but he denied the allegation and said he was close to the rotis but never spat on them. When I asked the owner, he feigned ignorance.”

A case under sections 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 270 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 295 A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 505(2) (statements conducing to public mischief) and 114 (abettor present when offence is committed) of the Indian Penal Code, Section 51 of the Disaster Management Act and Section 3 of Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, was registered at the Sector 14 police station.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More