Home / Crime and Justice / Mayfair Club Scandal: Director Admits Drink Spiking
Mayfair Club Scandal: Director Admits Drink Spiking
5 Feb
Summary
- A restaurant owner admitted to spiking a woman's drink with GBL.
- The incident occurred at a private members' club in Mayfair.
- CCTV footage captured the alleged drink spiking event.
A troubling incident at a prestigious Mayfair private members' club has led to a courtroom trial for Indian-origin businessman Vikas Nath. Nath, 63, director of the Michelin-starred restaurant Benares, admitted to adding gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) to a woman's margarita on January 15, 2024, at Annabel's.
Staff at the exclusive club observed Nath using a straw to add liquid from a small bottle, appearing to be vanilla extract, into the woman's drink. Before she could ingest it, alert staff intervened and replaced the beverage. Nath later disposed of the bottle, but the act was recorded by CCTV.
Nath claimed he administered the substance to help the woman relax and denied any sexual intent. Prosecutor Tim Clark KC noted the case's unusual nature due to Nath's explicit admission and the clear CCTV evidence. The woman testified she initially defended Nath, feeling it was her fault, but later expressed disbelief at his actions.
