Butter chicken, a globally beloved Indian dish, is not only delicious but also the subject of a contentious dispute between two restaurant chains in India. The legal battle over the origins of this iconic dish has become a hot topic in the country, captivating food enthusiasts and sparking a nationwide debate.
The lawsuit was filed by the family behind Moti Mahal, a renowned Delhi-based restaurant that has hosted celebrities like late U.S. President Richard Nixon and India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. The family claims that Kundan Lal Gujral, the founder of Moti Mahal, invented butter chicken in the 1930s when the restaurant first opened in Peshawar before relocating to Delhi. In a massive 2,752-page court filing, they accuse their rival chain, Daryaganj, of falsely claiming to have created the dish as well as dal makhani, another popular butter and cream-laden lentil dish.
The Gujral family is seeking $240,000 in damages and has also accused Daryaganj of copying the layout of Moti Mahal’s website and imitating the ambiance of their restaurants. Monish Gujral, the managing director of Moti Mahal, passionately stated, “You cannot take away somebody’s legacy… The dish was invented when our grandfather was in Pakistan.”
Daryaganj, established in 2019, counters that their late family member, Kundan Lal Jaggi, partnered with Gujral to open the Delhi restaurant in 1947, asserting that butter chicken was invented there. To support their claim, Daryaganj provided a faded, hand-written partnership document registered in 1949.
This dispute has captured the attention of the nation, with Indian TV broadcasters airing segments on the dish’s history and social media ablaze with the debate. Ameet Datta, an intellectual property lawyer at Saikrishna & Associates, remarked that the case is unique and challenging, explaining, “You really don’t know who created the first dish of butter chicken. The court will be hard-pressed and will need to rely on circumstantial evidence.” Testimonies from individuals who can link the dish to their experiences from decades ago could play a crucial role in determining the outcome.
Butter chicken, with its succulent tandoor-cooked chicken pieces in a tomato gravy enriched with cream and butter, holds a special place in the hearts of food lovers. It was ranked as the 43rd best dish in the world by TasteAtlas, based on the opinions of nearly 400,000 users. Remarkably, it was the second highest-ranked Indian dish, following butter garlic naan bread, with the two often served together.
The case was first presented in the Delhi High Court last week, and the next hearing is scheduled for May. Until then, the battle over the invention of this beloved Indian delicacy continues, awaiting a verdict that will put an end to the culinary dispute.
Source: F5 Magazine