Dutch couple pay Rs10,000 for samosa

With Delhi Belly among the main fears when travelling in India, tourists can be forgiven for being a little aggrieved when being charged over the odds for food.

But one Dutch couple have established a new standard for 'tourist prices', being charged Rs10,000 (£140) for four samosas.

The flour and potato snack usually costs around Rs3, but a canny salesman managed to charge a pair of tourists the astronomical amount during a visit to Harihar Kshetra Mela, also known as Sonepur Fair.

However, after consulting with a guidebook the couple realised they had been cheated and contacted the police.

"The hungry couple gobbled up two samosas each at a makeshift stall at the fair, and when one of them took out his wallet to make the payment, the stall owner quoted the price at Rs10,000," explained local police office PK Das.

Mr Kas added the shopkeeper turned greedy after apparently seeing a bundle of currency notes of Rs 1,000 denomination in the traveller's wallet.

The shopkeeper was made to return Rs9,990 to the couple, and has now believed to have gone into hiding.

Chris O'Toole