Hyderabad: Ariko Cafe in Jubilee Hills is at the centre of a controversy after being accused of selling whisky-laced gelato to children. A raid conducted by the Telangana excise department on September 5 resulted in the seizure of whiskey-infused gelato, but café owner Gattu Sharat Chandra Reddy claimed that the case was baseless and fabricated.
Reddy explained that the it all began on September 4 when an unknown caller persistently requested whisky-infused gelato for a party, despite being told that the café does not have a licence to sell such items. The caller, who claimed to have returned from the US and wanted something special, transferred `10,000 to the chef, pressuring him to make the gelato.
“We stopped making alcohol-infused gelatos in August 2019 after we closed our previous venture, Kiaro. We experimented with over 40 flavours, but they were only showcased at tasting events, never sold,” the café owner explained.
The caller, after multiple refusals, finally persuaded the production head by insisting he had a licence and would take responsibility. After purchasing a bottle of whisky with part of the transferred amount, the chef prepared the gelato.
“Minutes after it was made, officials arrived at the cafe. The timing and insistence of the customer show this was clearly planned,” Sharat alleged. CCTV footage shared by Sharat shows officials spending nearly half an hour at the cafe, ordering food before initiating the raid. “If they had credible information, why would they behave so casually,” he asked.
Reddy claimed that they took a vodka bottle belonging to the security guard and broken olive oil bottles from the dustbin. “They even made our chefs kneel for their 'wrongdoing',” he said. “Why would I keep these items at a busy café if I were involved in illegal activities?”
At the excise office, Reddy alleged that officials demanded `25,000 "as processing and court fees" and the return of the `10,000 paid by the caller in exchange for dropping the charges. “I refused, and asked them why they cared to cover up for the customer and not investigate his request too and that’s when the case was filed,” he told Deccan Chronicle.
Reddy raised serious questions about the handling of the case. “If we were selling alcohol-infused gelato, why weren’t all our products tested? Why was only one flavour targeted?” He pointed out that no parent has come forward to say their child was served alcohol-infused gelato, and there has been no lab test report to confirm the presence of alcohol. “Whisky is expensive. Why would we give it away for free,” he asked.
He also condemned the use of children in the allegations. “It was a narrative built to sensationalise the case. The superintendent even remarked, ‘Ice cream meant for children - it means you’re selling to children.’ They were spreading a false narrative.”
Following the raid, Reddy has lodged complaints with the excise commissioner, the Anti-Corruption Bureau, and the Human Rights Commission, alleging abuse of power. “Our business was disrupted, and one of our investors even questioned our ethics. We missed orders for no fault of ours,” he said.
Despite a formal complaint at the Jubilee Hills police station, he claims no action has been taken so far. “A local cop suggested we close the case because it was a petty issue,” he revealed.
The Telangana excise department has not yet responded to the allegations. Meanwhile, Ariko Cafe remains open, and Reddy said he would fight for his establishment’s reputation.
