Indian Restaurateur Admits to Spiking Woman’s Drink in London Club

A 63-year-old Indian restaurateur, Vikas Nath, has admitted to adding a substance to a woman’s drink at London’s exclusive Annabel’s private members’ club on January 15, 2024. However, Nath claims his intention was to “relax” her, and not for any sexually motivated purpose. The restaurateur, who owns a portfolio of high-end restaurants in the United Kingdom and Spain, allegedly used a straw to introduce gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) into the woman’s spicy margarita while seated at the rooftop garden bar, according to details presented in court.

The woman, whose identity remains protected due to legal considerations, testified before Southwark Crown Court on February 3, 2026, stating she felt “betrayed” by Nath’s actions. She recounted to the court that Nath had, days prior to the incident, cautioned her about the potential risk of drink spiking, telling her, “I recall him forewarning my friend and me about drinks being spiked.”

Court proceedings revealed the woman had met Nath approximately six times before January 15, primarily for lunch at establishments including the Beaverbrook Town House hotel and Nath’s Michelin-starred Mayfair restaurant, Benares. She described a recurring habit of Nath testing drinks with a straw during these meetings. “I always found it quite strange, he would put a little straw in to try it,” she stated, adding, “I became acclimatised to seeing him doing it.”

The woman’s testimony detailed a visit to Annabel’s with Nath on January 10, 2024, followed by a subsequent outing to a club called Cirque Le Soir, which she described as “a really dodgy club.” The following morning, she sent Nath a text message expressing her reluctance to consume alcohol, stating, “I don’t think I will be drinking today.” Nath responded, advising her to drink but to remain vigilant about her surroundings, expressing his “biggest concern” was someone spiking her drink.

Staff at Annabel’s observed Nath on January 15 dipping a straw into a small bottle of Madagascan vanilla extract he had retrieved from his pocket, and then transferring the liquid into the woman’s margarita. According to reports, staff intervened and replaced the drink with a fresh one before the woman could consume it. Nath allegedly discarded the GBL bottle into a toilet cistern.

The woman told the court that a staff member alerted her before she returned to the table, advising her of their concerns that something had been added to her drink. Initially, she dismissed the suggestion. “They advised me that they were concerned that he put something in it,” she said. “I remember vividly defending Mr Nath, saying ‘There is no way he could do that’.”

The woman explained to the court that she had met Nath while navigating a divorce and a strained relationship with her father. She described Nath as attentive during their initial encounters, stating, “He seemed genuinely concerned about my welfare, where I was going to be living.”

Regarding her interactions with Nath, she stated, “He came across as if he cared for me, and it was nice. I never thought he would have made a physical move on me. So, I felt safe with him. He never spoke of anything of a sexual nature.”

The woman indicated that Nath was aware of her boyfriend, though she did not frequently discuss him. Prior to January 15, her interactions with Nath were reportedly “never inappropriate.”

The case raises questions about the prevalence of drink spiking and the methods used to carry it out. While Nath admitted to adding a substance to the woman’s drink, he maintains it was not intended for sexual assault, a claim that will likely be central to the ongoing legal proceedings. The incident underscores the vulnerability of individuals in social settings and the importance of heightened awareness regarding drink safety.