NEW DELHI – The Surprising Fall of a Dosa King
Picture this: the same man who turned a tiny family stall into a global food empire has finally faced the music. P. Rajagopal, the 71‑year‑old founder of Saravana Bhavan, handed himself in after the Supreme Court decided he can’t escape the life sentence for strangling a rival’s husband.
From Rags to Riches… and Now to Realisations
- Rajagopal built over 80 Saravana Bhavan restaurants, stretching from the heart of London to bustling streets in Singapore, Sydney, and Stockholm.
- He’s the self‑proclaimed “dosa king,” celebrated for affordable South‑Indian classics – dosa pancakes, vadas, idlis, the works.
- Despite his street‑smart success, the king faltered when he set his sights on a “future wife” from one of his own employees’ families.
Drama in the Making
When the woman he was eyeing (who was already coupled up) said no, Rajagopal fired up a vengeance playbook: threats, blackmail, even a strange exorcism scene. When that flopped, he hired a gunman to take out the husband.
The first attempt went down like a bad Netflix series – unsuccessful. A second shoot, however, left a dead body in a Tamil Nadu forest, sealing the case.
The Verdict
- 1999 – convicted and handed a 10‑year sentence.
- 2004 – upon appeal, the sentence ballooned to life.
- March 2025 – the Supreme Court stands firm, calling him to go to prison immediately.
Final Act
Surrendering from his jam‑filled office, Rajagopal slipped into the Madras High Court in Chennai, ambulance wheels rattling as he strapped an oxygen mask over his face – ready to face the outcome of a life‑long drama that began with sauce and spirals into courtroom theatrics.
Why We’re Listening
It’s a lesson: even the most successful entrepreneur can’t buy his way out of a crime. The tale veers grimly into the realm of law, morality, and the unforgiving consequences of letting ambition tread the line between business and obsession.
