Scandal in the Maharaja: The landlord's sons set the restaurant on fire!

Scandal in the Maharaja: The landlord's sons set the restaurant on fire!

On the night of June 26th, a scandalous incident occurred in the Maharaja Indian restaurant in Aachen that sent the city into turmoil. The establishment was not only vandalized, but also partially set on fire. There were racist slogans and large swastikas on walls and doors, indicating a supposedly right-wing extremist act. But the truth that is now coming to light is shocking: the innkeeper's two sons, Param Jid (64), are suspected of having carried out the attack themselves in order to commit insurance fraud. This reports Picture.

The allegations are serious: The two sons (32 and 20 years old) are currently in custody and are facing investigations not only for attempted murder, but also for insurance fraud. Prosecutor Johanna Boomgaarden confirmed that investigations show the arson attack may have been an attempt to obtain unauthorized insurance money while simultaneously constructing the image of a victim of a right-wing extremist crime. The evidence is overwhelming: the alleged perpetrators' insufficient knowledge of German, which was expressed in sometimes incomprehensible messages such as "Your eating sucks," suggests a clear connection to the family.

Public reactions and solidarity

The alarming events quickly attracted public attention. Around 400 people gathered for a rally at the Elisenbrunnen to show their solidarity with the restaurant community. A fundraising collection also brought in an impressive 31,834 euros, which underlines the community's support. Among those politically responsible, Aachen's mayor Sibylle Keupen as well as other prominent politicians such as Armin Laschet and Michael Ziemons (CDU) expressed dismay at the incident, which was initially considered a right-wing extremist attack in the political classification. But the public prosecutor's office had expressed concerns early on that everything was not as clear as it seemed Aachen News reported.

Amid these fraud allegations, another dark picture emerges: discrimination and racism remain burning issues in Germany. According to a current evaluation, ethnic origin and racism are the most common reasons for discrimination and attacks. In 2024, the number of xenophobic acts of violence reached a peak of around 1,420, which speaks to the worrying direction of social trends. Over 21 percent of Germans manifest xenophobic attitudes and fears of a split in society are becoming increasingly tangible Statista shows.

A summary of the events

The case surrounding the Maharaja Restaurant is not only a local tragedy, but also raises questions about the social climate in Germany. While the restaurant is fighting for its reputation and the family is being criticized, the people of Aachen are faced with the challenge of countering the growing racist and discriminatory tendencies. The solidarity of citizens shows that the majority stands for diversity and against exclusion. It will be interesting to see what other facts will come to light as the investigation progresses.