The Delhi High Court has granted ₹5 lakh in compensation to the popular restaurant chain “Veer ji Malai Chaap Wale” in a trademark infringement case. The court ruled in favor of Veerji after several copycat eateries misused its name and branding to mislead customers. This judgment is being hailed as a major victory—not just for the restaurant, but for brand identity and the power of the law in protecting originality and business reputation. But we have so many things to understand in this case.
What Is Veer ji Malai Chaap Wale and Why Did It Go to Court?
Veerji Malai Chaap Wale is a popular Indian eatery chain known for its delicious vegetarian snacks, especially its signature soya chaap. With several branches operating across the country, it has earned a solid name for serving tasty, budget-friendly meals and reliable service, making it a go-to spot for regular food lovers and street food fans alike.
Around mid-2023, the owners of Veerji Malai Chaap Wale started noticing something strange. In cities like Delhi, Meerut, Raipur, and Haridwar, new food stalls and outlets were popping up with names that looked almost exactly like theirs—like “Veer Ji Malai Chaap Wale” or “Veere Di……”
At first glance, it might seem like a coincidence. But if you looked closer, even the logos and branding were super similar. Anyone who understands a bit about intellectual property rights would know—that’s not just copying, it’s illegal.
What made things worse? These fake outlets weren’t just opening quietly on the street—they were also showing up on big food delivery apps like Zomato and Swiggy, and it would confuse the normal people.
At that point, it was clear something had to be done. So, the owners of Veerji Malai Chaap Wale decided to take legal action against these fake outlets. In December 2023, they filed a case in the Delhi High Court, accusing them of trademark infringement and “passing off”—a serious offense where someone tries to fool customers by pretending to be another brand.
They didn’t just make claims—they came prepared. The Veerji team submitted strong evidence: side-by-side comparisons of names and logos, screenshots from delivery platforms, and even proof that customers were getting confused, thinking the fake places were part of the original brand.
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Why the Copycat Outlets Lost the Veer ji Malai Chaap Wale Case in Court
After the case was filed, the legal proceedings began a few months later. But most of the defendants didn’t even show up in court or submit any responses. Because of this, the Delhi High Court passed an “ex parte” order, which means the case could continue and be decided even without the defendants present.
Then, on July 18, 2025, Justice Amit Bansal carefully reviewed all the evidence submitted by the original Veerji team. After examining side-by-side comparisons, delivery app listings, and proof of customer confusion, the Court came to a clear conclusion: the defendants had shamelessly copied the name and logo of Veerji Malai Chaap Wale in an attempt to deceive the public and cash in on the brand’s popularity.
It wasn’t just a case of similar names—it was a deliberate and dishonest attempt to mislead customers by imitating the full brand identity.
What did the Delhi High Court say about the case?
In Delhi High Court, one of the defendants even changed the name slightly—from “Veer Ji” to “Veer Di”—after being warned by the court, which the judge described as a “fraud on the court.” On July 18, 2025, Justice Amit Bansal gave the final judgment, stating that the defendants had intentionally copied the original brand’s name and logo to mislead the public. As a result, the court issued a permanent ban on the use of similar names or designs, ordered Zomato and Swiggy to remove the listings of the fake outlets within 72 hours, and directed the five accused parties to pay a total of ₹5 lakh—₹1 lakh each—as punishment for violating trademark rights.
Conclusion:
This case is a strong reminder that copying a brand’s identity—whether it’s a name or logo—can lead to serious legal consequences. The judgment reinforces the importance of protecting trademarks and maintaining trust with customers in today’s competitive market.
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