Moti Mahal Vs Daryaganj: Battle For The Origins Of Butter Chicken Is Spicing Up In Court

The battle to claim the invention of one of India's most famous chicken dishes, butter chicken, is heating up. This tasty dispute is being fought, not in kitchens by chefs, but in a courtroom by lawyers. The Delhi High Court will decide which of two iconic restaurants will get a mouth-watering outcome and who will be left with a sour taste in their mouth.

Moti Mahal Vs Daryaganj

Moti Mahal Restaurant in Delhi has been involved in a court battle over the origins of the world-famous butter chicken with another iconic eatery, Daryaganj, since January. The bone of contention is who the true inventor of butter chicken is, with both restaurants arguing that their respective founders created the now-iconic recipe.

Also read: Man Travels 32 Km For Butter Chicken In Melbourne

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What Moti Mahal wants

Moti Mahal took its rival to court, claiming it had the sole right to be recognized as the inventor of butter chicken and demanded that Daryaganj stop claiming credit and pay damages. Moti Mahal also accused Daryaganj of copying "the look and feel" of its outlets' interiors, which Daryaganj denies, countering that Moti Mahal copied its "design of floor tiles."

Moti Mahal's argument

As the court battle heats up, both sides have submitted evidence to back their claims. According to a Reuters report, Moti Mahal stated that its founder, Kundan Lal Gujral, created butter chicken in the 1930s at an eatery in Peshawar, now in Pakistan, before relocating to Delhi.

Also read: American Man Tries Butter Chicken-Garlic Naan For The First Time

MOTI MAHAL

What Daryaganj said

Daryaganj countered these claims, arguing that the "story of the invention of butter chicken does not ring true" and is aimed at misleading the court. Daryaganj claims a late member of its founding family, Kundan Lal Jaggi, created the dish when he helmed the kitchen at the relocated Delhi eatery, while Gujral, his friend and partner from Peshawar, only handled marketing.

Daryaganj

New evidence

Evidence submitted in court includes a black-and-white photograph from the 1930s showing the two friends in Peshawar, a 1949 partnership agreement, Jaggi's business card after relocating to Delhi, and his 2017 video talking about the dish's origin.

Can both restaurants share the credit

Daryaganj argued that by virtue of the friends' partnership, "both parties can claim that their respective ancestors created the dish."

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A key point of contention, which the court will have to rule on, is where, when, and by whom the dish was first made¡ªby Gujral in Peshawar, Jaggi in New Delhi, or if both should be credited.

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