A shocking incident in Noida has sparked intense debate on social media after a woman alleged that she received non-veg biryani instead of veg biryani during Navratri. The woman, identified as Chhaya Sharma, shared an emotional video online, claiming that the restaurant deliberately sent her non-vegetarian food, violating her dietary beliefs. The video quickly went viral, prompting swift action from the Noida police, who arrested the restaurant owner.
The Viral Video That Sparked Outrage
The controversy began when Chhaya Sharma, a resident of Noida, ordered a veg biryani from the restaurant Lucknowi Kabab Paratha through the online food delivery platform Swiggy. However, upon receiving the order and taking a few bites, she realized that the dish contained non-vegetarian ingredients.
In a video posted on social media, Chhaya broke down in tears, expressing her distress over the situation. She stated in Hindi:
“I am a pure vegetarian woman, and they have sent me non-veg biryani during Navratri. This is intentional. Whoever did this has done it intentionally. How can they send non-veg when I specifically ordered veg biryani?”
The video quickly gained traction across platforms like Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), amassing millions of views. While some netizens expressed sympathy and outrage on her behalf, others questioned whether an honest mistake warranted the arrest of the restaurant owner.
Police Action and Arrest of Restaurant Owner
Following the widespread online backlash, Noida police took immediate action. On April 7, officers from the Bisrakh Police Station arrested the restaurant operator of Lucknowi Kabab Paratha, located in Amrapali Leisure Valley, Greater Noida. The official X account of the Police Commissionerate Gautam Buddh Nagar shared a picture of the arrested individual, confirming the action taken against him.
Mohammed Zubair of Alt News later identified the restaurant owner as Rahul Rajvanshi. The police statement read:
“Bisrakh Police Station (Central Noida): Restaurant operator arrested for sending non-veg biryani after an online order for veg biryani.”
While the police acted swiftly, the decision to arrest the restaurant owner has sparked a debate on the proportionality of the response. Many social media users argued that while the mistake was unfortunate, it should have been addressed through customer service channels rather than legal action.
Swiggy’s Response and Restaurant’s Defense
HT.com has reached out to Swiggy for an official statement on the incident. As of now, the food delivery platform has not responded publicly.
Sources close to the restaurant claim that the mix-up was unintentional and may have resulted from an error in packaging. The restaurant has not released an official statement, but supporters argue that such mistakes can happen in busy food establishments and do not necessarily indicate malicious intent.
Social Media Reactions: Outrage and Debate
The incident has deeply divided public opinion online. Many people expressed their support for Chhaya Sharma, emphasizing the importance of respecting dietary preferences, particularly during religious festivals like Navratri. They argued that such negligence could deeply hurt religious sentiments and should be taken seriously.
On the other hand, critics questioned whether the restaurant owner deserved to be arrested over a delivery mistake. Some users pointed out that mistakes in food delivery are common and that the matter could have been resolved with a refund or an apology instead of legal action.
One user wrote:
“Ordering food online always has some risks. It was a mistake, not a crime. A police case seems like an overreaction.”
Another user countered:
“If someone has strict dietary restrictions due to religion, health, or ethics, such mistakes are unacceptable. The restaurant should be held accountable.”
Legal Implications and Future Considerations
The arrest of the restaurant owner raises important questions about the legal framework surrounding food service mistakes. While misrepresenting food can be considered an offense under consumer protection laws, criminal liability is usually reserved for cases involving intentional harm, fraud, or serious health risks.
Moving forward, this incident may prompt stricter regulations for food delivery services to ensure that customers receive what they order, particularly when religious sentiments are involved. Restaurants and food aggregators may also be required to implement additional quality checks to prevent such mix-ups in the future.
Conclusion
The Noida biryani mix-up has sparked a nationwide discussion on accountability, religious sensitivity, and the role of law enforcement in customer grievances. While Chhaya Sharma’s distress is understandable, the arrest of the restaurant owner has left many questioning the severity of the response.
As the case unfolds, all eyes will be on Swiggy’s response and the legal proceedings that follow. For now, this incident serves as a reminder of the importance of accuracy in food service and the need for a balanced approach to conflict resolution in such cases.