Vikas Nath, a 63-year-old Indian-born entrepreneur and owner of multiple Michelin-starred restaurants, has admitted in a London court to spiking a woman's drink at an exclusive private club. The shocking incident occurred at the prestigious Annabel's club in Mayfair on January 15, 2024, where Nath was caught red-handed adding gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) to the woman's margarita cocktail.
Caught in the Act: CCTV Evidence and Staff Intervention
According to testimony presented at Southwark Crown Court, alert staff members witnessed Nath using a straw to transfer liquid from a vanilla extract bottle into the woman's drink while she was momentarily away from the table. The quick-thinking employees immediately replaced the contaminated beverage before it could be consumed and promptly alerted authorities. Prosecutors revealed that the entire spiking incident was captured on the club's CCTV surveillance system, providing irrefutable evidence against the wealthy businessman.
Attempted Cover-Up and Drug Possession Charges
As police were en route to the scene, Nath apparently realized he had been discovered and attempted to conceal evidence. The court heard how he retreated to a restroom and hid the small bottle containing the illicit substance in a toilet cistern. When officers arrived at the Mayfair establishment, they successfully recovered the container, which later tested positive for traces of the so-called date-rape drug. Further investigation led police to Nath's Knightsbridge residence, where they discovered two additional bottles of GBL hidden beneath his kitchen sink.
Contradictory Claims and Previous Surveillance
While Nath has admitted to spiking the drink, he vehemently denies any sexual motivation behind his actions. The restaurateur claims he merely intended to help the woman "relax" by adding the substance to her cocktail. However, prosecutors presented text message exchanges that allegedly show Nath expressing sexual interest in the woman prior to the incident. The jury also learned that Nath had installed a motion-activated camera in a bedroom at his home, which he admitted using to secretly record sexual encounters.
Questionable Explanations and Legal Consequences
During police interrogation, Nath offered an unusual explanation for possessing GBL, claiming he purchased it as a cleaning fluid for high-performance vehicles. He further stated that a friend had suggested mixing the chemical with alcohol could help someone relax, and he insisted he was unaware that possessing GBL was illegal in the United Kingdom. Under UK law, particularly the Sexual Offences Act 2003, spiking someone's drink with intent to commit a sexual offense carries severe penalties. If convicted, Nath could face up to ten years imprisonment for attempting to administer a substance with intent, along with additional charges for possessing a Class B drug.
Ongoing Trial and Broader Implications
The trial continues as prosecutors argue that Nath's admission was inevitable given the compelling CCTV evidence. "His acceptance is not surprising; he had little choice because the spiking was captured on CCTV at Annabel's," prosecutor Tim Clark KC told the court. The case has drawn attention to drink spiking incidents in upscale venues and highlights the serious consequences under British law. Nath's international restaurant empire, which includes establishments in both the United Kingdom and Spain, now faces scrutiny as legal proceedings unfold.
