Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Muskan Arora
A legal battle has emerged between two renowned Indian restaurant chains, Moti Mahal and Daryaganj, over the claim to the origins of the globally popular dish, butter chicken.
Moti Mahal, a well-known Delhi restaurant, founded in the 1930s, filed a lawsuit against Daryaganj, alleging that the late Kundan Lal Gujral, the restaurant's founder, created butter chicken in Peshawar before relocating to Delhi.
Moti Mahal, a restaurant visited by historical figures like Richard Nixon and Jawaharlal Nehru, seeks $240,000 (Nearly Rs 2 crore) in damages. The family accuses Daryaganj of falsely claiming to have invented butter chicken and dal makhani, and copying Moti Mahal's website layout and restaurant ambiance.
Established in 2019, Daryaganj counters that Kundan Lal Jaggi, a late family member, partnered with Gujral to open the Delhi restaurant in 1947, asserting that the dish was invented there. The restaurant presents a 1949 partnership document as evidence, according to a report by Reuters.
The dispute has captured the nation's attention, with Indian TV broadcasters featuring segments on the dish's history. Social media platforms are abuzz with debates over the contested origins of butter chicken.
Intellectual property lawyer Ameet Datta notes the uniqueness of the case, emphasizing the challenge in determining the dish's original creator. The court may rely on circumstantial evidence, including testimonies linking the dish to specific brands from decades ago.
The dish, composed of tandoor-cooked chicken in a tomato gravy with cream and butter, holds culinary significance globally. TasteAtlas ranked it 43rd among the world's best dishes, based on user ratings, positioning it as the second-ranked Indian dish after butter garlic naan bread.
The case's first hearing took place in the Delhi High Court last week, with the next hearing scheduled for May. The court is anticipated to examine evidence and testimonies to resolve the contentious dispute over the invention of butter chicken.