The owner of a popular biryani chain on the northern fringes of Calcutta said he had been receiving calls demanding Rs 20 lakh for some time.

Early on Wednesday, he said, two youths trailed him on motorcycles when he was on his way home to Barrackpore from Madhyamgram.

Anirban Das, the owner of D Bapi Biryani, said two bike-borne youths trailed his car from Muragacha in Sodepur while he was returning home after closing the chain’s Madhyamgram outlet around 1.15am on Wednesday.

For almost 15km, the men allegedly followed his car till he reached closer home and got off his vehicle to alert police in Barrackpore.

The youths then sped away, said Das.

The chain has outlets in Barrackpore, Madhyamgram, Barasat and Sodepur. An employee said D Bapi sells over 7,000 plates of biryani every day.

“I have been receiving calls from different numbers for some time demanding Rs 20 lakh,” Das said.

“The calls were followed by WhatsApp messages. The callers said they would open fire at the Madhyamgram outlet if I didn’t pay the amount. I have been ignoring it. Last night, they followed me.”

On May 16, 2022, three youths had fired seven rounds at the chain’s Barrackpore outlet. An employee and a customer were injured in the brazen firing that terrified business owners in Barrackpore.

Das’s complaint comes within days of two bike-borne youths opening fire at the car of a Barrackpore realtor, Ajay Mandal. The police said the realtor, who escaped unhurt, had received ransom calls earlier.

“Whatever steps required will be taken to ensure the businessman doesn’t feel threatened. We will scan the extortion calls,” said an officer of the Barrackpore commissionerate.