A legal dispute has erupted between two renowned restaurant chains, Moti Mahal and Daryaganj, over the claim to the invention of the iconic Indian dishes, butter chicken and dal makhani. Moti Mahal has moved the Delhi High Court seeking to cancel Daryaganj’s trademark, asserting that it misleads the public about the origins of these dishes.
Background of the Dispute
Moti Mahal’s proprietors claim that their predecessor, the late Kundan Lal Gujral, invented butter chicken and dal makhani. They argue that after moving to Delhi from Peshawar post-partition, Gujral created these dishes using unsold leftovers of tandoori chicken, which he rehydrated with a rich, buttery tomato sauce, and applied a similar method to black lentils to create dal makhani【467†source】【468†source】.
Claims and Counterclaims
Moti Mahal alleges that Daryaganj is misleading the public by claiming that their predecessor, the late Kundan Lal Jaggi, invented these dishes. They are seeking a court order to prevent Daryaganj from using the tagline “by the inventors of butter chicken and dal makhani” in its branding and promotional materials.
In response, Daryaganj has vehemently denied these claims, arguing that both Gujral and Jaggi jointly established the original Moti Mahal in Peshawar, and thus, no single party holds exclusive rights over the dishes’ invention. The court has issued summons to Daryaganj’s proprietors to file their response【469†source】.
Legal Proceedings
Justice Sanjeev Narula of the Delhi High Court has scheduled the next hearing for May 29, where the parties will present further evidence and arguments. The case underscores the complexities involved in intellectual property rights and the importance of clear historical documentation in culinary heritage disputes【468†source】【469†source】.