Moti Mahal and Daryaganj Battle in Court Over Butter Chicken Origins

The historic dispute over the invention of the globally beloved dish has captured India's attention, with the next hearing scheduled for May.

Two Indian restaurant chains, Moti Mahal and Daryaganj, are locked in a legal battle over the origins of butter chicken, a globally renowned Indian dish. Both restaurants claim their founders invented the dish.
Moti Mahal, a historic Delhi restaurant, claims its founder Kundan Lal Gujral created the dish in the 1930s in Peshawar, before the restaurant moved to Delhi. They are seeking $240,000 in damages from Daryaganj, accusing them of falsely claiming to have invented the dish and copying their website and restaurant aesthetics.
Daryaganj, established in 2019, counters that its late family member, Kundan Lal Jaggi, had partnered with Gujral to open the Delhi restaurant in 1947, and the dish was invented there. They have produced a faded, handwritten partnership document registered in 1949 to back their argument.
The legal dispute has captured the attention of the Indian public, with TV broadcasters running segments on the history of the dish and debates raging on social media. The case is expected to rely heavily on circumstantial evidence and testimonies of people who can link the brand to the dish they consumed decades ago.
The case was first heard by the Delhi High Court last week, and the next hearing is scheduled for May.