Battle Over 'Butter Chicken & Dal Makhani' Heats Up As Moti Mahal Seeks Cancellation Of Daryaganj's Trademark

Moti Mahal contends that they are the original inventors and have been using the tagline “Inventors of Original Dal Makhani, Tandoori Chicken & Butter Chicken” since 2005. Daryaganj acquired the trademark in 2018.

In January, Delhi HC summoned to the owners of Daryaganj restaurants and asked them to reply to a case filed by Moti Mahal ( Image Source :Getty )

The impending battle between two resteraunt chains Moti Mahal and Daryaganj has intensified as the former has now moved a fresh petition in the Delhi High Court seeking cancellation of trademark “DARYAGANJ: BY THE INVENTORS OF BUTTER CHICKEN & DAL MAKHANI.”

Moti Mahal contends that they are the original inventors of Dal Makahani, Tandoori Chicken and Butter Chicken and have been using the tagline “Inventors of Original Dal Makhani, Tandoori Chicken & Butter Chicken” since 2005. Daryaganj acquired the trademark in 2018 on a ‘proposed to be used’ basis. Moti Mahal has challenged Daryaganj's trademark for being identical to its own.

Moti Mahal applied for registration of devise mark in 2023, four years after Daryanganj and its application is still pending before the trademark registry.

It may be recalled, in January, Moti Mahal filed a seperate civil suit against Daryaganj over the use of the tagline “Inventors of Butter Chicken and Dal Makhani.” The fresh plea challenges the trademark registration of the same line.  

Earlier, the Delhi High Court issued summons to the owners of Daryaganj restaurants and asked them to file a written statement in response to a case filed by the owners of Moti Mahal restaurant chain against them over two most famous North Indian cuisines dishes — 'butter chicken' and 'dal makhani'.

What is the case?

For past several years, both Daryaganj and Moti Mahal have claimed that they are the original inventors of butter chicken and dal makhani.

The owners of Moti Mahal have submitted before the Delhi high court that it was their predecessor Late Kundal Lal Gujral who invented Butter Chicken and Dal Makhani. They have sued Daryaganj restaurant for “misleading people into believing” that their predecessor Late Kundan Lal Jaggi was the inventor of the two dishes.

Moti Mahal’s owners have moved the high court to stop Daryaganj restaurants’ owners from making such claims. They have also asked the court to stop Daryaganj from using the tag line “by the inventors of butter chicken and dal makhani” on their website.

The restaurant claims that Gujral invented the Butter Chicken recipe in an effort to utilise leftovers of chicken. He invented the Butter Chicken sauce to keep the leftover chicken hydrated and prevent wastage.

They claim that invention of Dal Makhani is closely linked with the invention of Butter Chicken as same recipe was used with Black lentils to create Dal Makhani around the same time.

They also moved against the Daryaganj using photograph of the Moti Mahal restaurant in Peshawar.

However, Daryaganj contended that the said restaurant was established jointly by predecessors of both parties, thus invalidating any claims of exclusive rights over the image that the Moti Mahal's might claim. 

This case was listed for further hearing before Justice Narula on May 29