Jean-Pierre Chalençon and Christophe Leroy at the Palais Vivienne, October 29, 2020. -

DIDIER AUDEBERT / LMS / SIPA

The joke becomes very serious.

The cook Christophe Leroy and the collector Pierre-Jean Chalençon, suspected of having organized in Paris clandestine luxury meals in particular at the Palais Vivienne, were placed in police custody on Friday, we learned from the Paris prosecutor's office, confirming information from BFMTV.

The two men are questioned by the Brigade for the repression of delinquency against the person (BRDP) in charge of the investigation, said a source close to the file.

The broadcast of a report by M6 last week on lavish clandestine dinners in Paris sparked a heated controversy, one of the organizers, identified as Pierre-Jean Chalençon, claiming to have "dined in the week in two, three illegal restaurants" where he would have crossed "ministers".

The report notably mentioned a dinner at the Palais Vivienne, in the 2nd arrondissement of the capital, "around a caviar and champagne menu" at the price of "220 euros per person" concocted by the cook Christophe Leroy.

He had ignited social networks, provoked reactions from the political class, and led to the opening of an investigation.

Since then, Pierre-Jean Chalençon has returned to his statements, explaining that he wanted to make "humor".

Government spokesman Gabriel Attal said for his part Thursday that he had "no information on the participation of members of the government" in these dinners.

A search carried out Thursday at the Palais Vivienne

President Emmanuel Macron recalled in the Council of Ministers that "all those who have responsibilities should be exemplary" in respect of measures to fight against Covid-19, and warned that there would be "no complacency" to the 'respect for offenders, added Gabriel Attal.

A search was carried out Thursday at the Palais Vivienne, owned by Pierre-Jean Chalençon.

Another search had already taken place Wednesday at the Parisian home of Christophe Leroy.

The latter “was able to provide a number of documents establishing that the services he performed were, as permitted by law, in private homes and not in establishments open to the public (ERP) of the restaurant ”, had indicated his lawyer, Me Thierry Fradet.

"In any event and contrary to what has been claimed in an unprofessional manner, no member of the government participated in the meals," he added, denouncing a "bad trial" against his client.

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