Police in Gurugram arrested a hotel manager for allegedly serving dry ice as a mouth freshener to diners on Tuesday. Videos on social media showed the diners spitting blood after consuming dry ice.

The hotel manager was arrested on charges of causing harm by poisoning.

Manesar’s assistant commissioner of police, Surender Sheoran, told the press that five people became ill after consuming dry ice from the waiter. He also said that the people felt a burning sensation in their mouths after eating the dry ice.

According to the complainant, he dined with his wife and four friends in the restaurant and was presented with a mouth freshner by the waiter. However, as soon as they used the mouth freshner, their health deteriorated and were transferred to the hospital.

“They tried spitting it out and attempted to wash it with water. They vomited and started bleeding,” one of the diners told ToI.

According to the complaint reported to the police, the group experienced mouth burns, bleeding, and vomiting. The FIR was lodged under IPC sections 328 (poisonous substances causing harm) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) at Kherki Daula police station.

Later, the doctor stated that there was a substance found called dry ice in the packets, an acid potentially fatal upon ingestion.

Currently, the case is under investigation by the police while the owner of the restaurant is absconding.

Dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide that has the unique characteristic of not melting. It transitions from solid to gas which is a process called sublimation. Prolonged exposure or indigestion of dry ice causes frostbite, respiratory issues, and internal organ damage.