Delhi HC calls for a time-out in butter chicken battle: Moti Mahal vs. Daryaganj
Delhi High Court finds itself at the center of a culinary dispute as it navigates a legal tussle between two iconic restaurants — Moti Mahal and Daryaganj. The question at hand: Who can rightfully claim to be the inventors of the beloved Indian dishes, butter chicken and dal makhani?
Hold on to your plates! On January 16, Judge Sanjeev Narula from the Delhi High Court gave Daryaganj a homework assignment.
They need to respond to Moti Mahal's complaint about using the tagline «Inventors of butter chicken and dal makhani.» The court also set a date, May 29, for a big hearing and took a peek at Moti Mahal's request to stop Daryaganj from using the tagline for now.
Food Fight Facts
Moti Mahal is saying their cooking genius, the late Kundal Lal Gujral, deserves the credit for dreaming up butter chicken and dal makhani in the 1930s. Meanwhile, Daryaganj insists it was Kundan Lal Jaggi's bright idea in 1947.
Two different stories, but only one can be true!
The Butter Chicken Tale
Moti Mahal claims Gujral whipped up the first butter chicken by cooking leftover tandoori chicken in a tasty tomato sauce with lots of butter and cream. This happened in the 1930s, they say.
On the flip side, Daryaganj spins a yarn about Jaggi creating the dish in 1947, using a bit of leftover tandoori chicken and a clever suggestion from a Bengali guest.
Legal Back-and-Forth
Moti Mahal is serious – they're telling the court that Daryaganj is fooling people with their claim and making a false connection between the two restaurants. The court asked Daryaganj to write down their side of the story within a month.
