A Delhi judge is set to decide, with two Indian restaurant chains duking it out in court.
This is Moti Mahal... a well-known Delhi restaurant brand that has served famous guests, such as former U.S. President Richard Nixon.
The family behind the chain brought the lawsuit forward.
It claims founder Kundan Lal Gujral created the dish, which is made with tandoor-cooked chicken, tomato gravy, cream and butter, in a restaurant in Peshawar in the 1930s - before it moved to Delhi.
"We will not allow anybody to take away our legacy...."
Monish Gurjal is the chain's managing director.
"So it is just for public knowledge, we do not want public to be misled."
In a court filing that is more than 2,700 pages long, it's suing rival chain Daryaganj over the invention of butter chicken, as well as a popular lentil dish.
The Gurjal family is seeking $240,000 in damages... alleging the rival eatery has also copied the "look and feel" of its branches.
Daryaganj was established in 2019.
It counters that its late family member teamed up with Gurgal to open the Delhi restaurant in 1947...
And that's when the dish was created.
That means Daryaganj can also lay claim to the dish's invention, it argues.
Amit Bagga is Daryaganj's CEO and co-founder.
"Butter Chicken and Dal Makhani are the dishes which were invented in a restaurant called Moti Mahal and this Moti Mahal restaurant was founded by three partners and Mr. Kundan Lal Jaggi, he was one of the co-founders of that restaurant. And that is why, we have used this name."
The dispute has gripped the country... with the next hearing is set for May.
