Curry house boss calls cops and accuses diner of ‘planting’ dead mouse in curry
Police officers were called to the award-winning Shajan restaurant after a row broke out over claims a group found the rodent in their food
A CURRY house boss called in cops after smelling a rat when a customer claimed to have found a dead mouse in her food.
Officers were called to the award-winning Shajan restaurant after a row broke out over claims a group of eight found a rodent in their curry during a slap-up £155 meal.
A picture of the offending dish was later posted online - but the restaurant boss has turned the tables on the group by counter-claiming the mouse was “planted” by the diners.
Restaurant boss Mohammad Ali, who counts former Premier League star David Dunn among his clientele, now plans to sue them for damaging his reputation.
Police confirmed they were called to the eaterie in Clayton-le-Dale, near Blackburn, Lancs, on Saturday night to reports of a “nuisance”.
The matter has now been handed over to environmental health inspectors who are carrying out tests on the mouse to establish whether it was cooked or not.
After a picture of the mouse in the food was circulated on Facebook, Mr Ali said in a statement: "We are aware of these allegations.
"We are victims of a targeted malicious attack by someone who has a grudge against the restaurant.
“We are complying fully with the Environmental Health Officers from the council, who have visited and have found no issues of concern.
We are victims of a targeted malicious attack by someone who has a grudge against the restaurant
“We are proud of our high hygiene standard and have been awarded a 5 rating under the national food hygiene scheme
"The matter is in the hands of my solicitors.
"The police have been contacted.
"Inspectors from the council have been and they are satisfied with everything."
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His solicitor Michael Corrigan added: “This is a malicious act by a person with a grudge against the restaurant and we will be taking court proceedings against them with the view to claiming damages.”
Mr Ali opened the restaurant with his wife in 1992 and it has been crowned the best Indian restaurant in the North West twice in a row.
Customers also flocked to social networking sites to defend the restaurant and praise its food.
Jamie Marshall, who was eating in the restaurant with his wife and daughter when the row broke out, said: "I was on the next table.
"I can vouch for the restaurant.
"I have been here for over 10 years.
“Funnily the only meal in question was the only one left.
"A huge amount of other dishes had been polished off!!
"I ate my meal AFTER said find in confidence.
"These people clearly had no regard for a restaurant with a great reputation and more importantly many people's livelihood.”
Tom Steele said: “I saw the photo and thought it odd that everything apart from the mouse seemed to have been eaten."
And Tracy Fielding-Thompson posted: “Heard about this from people that were dining there on the day it happened and immediately thought it was someone trying it on ....you would notice a whole mouse in your food as would the chef ... Some people have no qualms about trying to ruin hard working people's businesses.
"Luckily this restaurant has such a good reputation it won't stop the regular patrons."
Some people have no qualms about trying to ruin hard working people's businesses
The restaurant regularly receives five star reviews on TripAdvisor.
Keoghsbb, from Preston posted recently: "the best Indian food ever" while Chrissy J considered the cuisine the "tastiest curry in Lancashire" and gave it five stars.
The mouse picture was posted on Facebook by Holly Marsden, who said she had been forwarded it by a friend.
It was shared more than 200 times before it was removed following complaints.
Holly later posted “Apparently that mouse was planted according to some comments.
"So I apologise to everyone.
"I can’t believe someone would actually go that far.
"I will be personally calling the restaurant to apologise.”