The News Freedom
New Delhi, January 21
The aroma of creamy butter chicken and smoky dal makhani hangs heavy in the air, not just in kitchens, but also in the Delhi High Court. A heated dispute simmers between two legendary restaurants, Moti Mahal and Daryaganj, both laying claim to the crown of inventing these iconic Indian dishes.
The matter was presented for consideration before Justice Sanjeev Narula on January 16, during which the Court issued summons and directed the proprietors of the Daryaganj restaurant to submit their written response to the lawsuit within one month. Justice Narula further acknowledged Moti Mahal’s request for an interim injunction and scheduled a hearing for it on May 29.
Moti Mahal, draped in history and culinary legacy, accuses Daryaganj of “misleading people” by using the tagline “Inventors of Butter Chicken and Dal Makhani.” They argue that it was their late predecessor, Kundan Lal Gujral, who birthed these delicacies before Partition, breathing life into leftover tandoori chicken with a magical “makhani” sauce. Dal Makhani, they claim, followed soon after, born from the same recipe applied to black lentils.
Daryaganj, however, throws down the gauntlet, labelling Moti Mahal’s suit “baseless.” They counter by claiming the first Moti Mahal was a joint venture between Gujral and their own culinary hero, Kundan Lal Jaggi, back in Peshawar. The invention, they insist, belongs not to one, but to both their lineages.
Read the complete order here Delhi Court order jan