Who is Vikas Nath? Indian-origin millionaire who admitted to spiking a woman’s drink at a posh Mayfair club

A case emerging from London’s high-end social scene has sparked serious discussion, not because of luxury or status, but because of a troubling breach of trust. An incident at a private members’ club in Mayfair has now reached the courtroom, involving an Indian-origin restaurant owner and a woman who believed she was in safe company.

Why the case is being widely discussed

The matter has gained attention as it involves a well-known businessman, a reputed private club, and an admitted act of drink spiking. The situation was noticed in time by staff, recorded on CCTV, and later acknowledged by the accused, making it a rare and closely watched case.

Who is Vikas Nath
Vikas Nath, 63, is an Indian-origin businessman based in London. He is a director of the Michelin-starred restaurant Benares in Mayfair and is associated with restaurants in the UK and Spain.

He is facing trial at Southwark Crown Court.

What happened at the Mayfair club

According to a report by the Hindustan Times, on January 15, 2024, Nath was seated with a woman at the rooftop garden bar of Annabel’s, a private members’ club in Mayfair. The woman cannot be identified for legal reasons.

According to the court, and as reported by the Hindustan Times, the staff observed Nath taking a small bottle from his pocket. Using a straw, he drew liquid from the bottle and added it to the woman’s margarita.

The bottle appeared to contain vanilla extract, but it later emerged that it held a chemical substance.

Before the woman could drink it, staff intervened and replaced the drink.

Nath later disposed of the bottle by throwing it into a toilet before police arrived.

What was added to the drink

As per the Hindustan Times report, Nath admitted in court that he added gamma-butyrolactone, known as GBL, to the drink.

GBL is a chemical that converts into GHB inside the body. GHB is commonly associated with drink spiking and can cause drowsiness, memory loss, unconsciousness, and serious health risks.

Nath told the court that he added the substance to help the woman “relax” and said it was not done to have sex with her.

As quoted in the report, Prosecutor Tim Clark KC told the court, “This case is unusual because there's no dispute Mr Nath spiked her drink.”

He added, “His acceptance is not surprising, he had little choice because the spiking was captured on CCTV at Annabel's.”

How the woman became aware

The woman told the court that a staff member approached her with a warning.

“They advised me that they were concerned that he put something in it,” she said.

She said she initially found it hard to accept.

“I remember vividly defending Mr Nath, saying 'There is no way he could do that',” she told the jury.

She also said, “I remember sending him a message saying 'I'm sorry, I don't know what's happening'. Because I felt it was my fault.”

“I didn't want him in trouble, I didn't believe it.”

What she said about her relationship with Nath

According to the report, the woman told the court that she met Nath during a difficult phase of her life. She was going through a divorce and family issues, including what she described as a “very big falling out with my father”.

She said Nath had invited her out for a drink and appeared caring and concerned about her wellbeing and living situation.

She told the court that Nath “always paid” for their lunches and described him as “very generous”. She also said she was not working at the time.

Explaining why she trusted him, she said, “He came across as 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.”

Messages referred to in court

As mentioned in the report, the prosecution told the court that Nath had exchanged text messages with a friend before the incident.

In those messages, Nath expressed a wish to have sex with the woman and said he was “frustrated” that it had not yet happened.
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