Hindu pilgrims served meat during sacred Guru Purnima yatra by Muslim dhaba operator running eatery under Hindu name
Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh, India 
5 July, 2025
Case Summary
In the Pandhana area of Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh, Hindu devotees on a pilgrimage to the revered Dadaji Dhuniwale temple were served meat during Guru Purnima, despite ordering vegetarian food. The group had stopped at a roadside eatery named Rajveer Dhaba, which was operated under a Hindu name by a Muslim man named Javed. Most of the staff at the establishment were also Muslims. The devotees, en route to Khandwa—approximately 30 kilometres away—ordered sev tomato curry, a popular vegetarian dish. However, upon eating, they discovered pieces of bone and fat mixed into the curry. Realising that they had been served meat, the devotees immediately confronted Javed with the evidence. Instead of expressing remorse, he offered to serve a replacement dish and urged them not to create a scene. This dismissive response further enraged the devotees, who demanded accountability for the desecration of their religious observance. The group promptly alerted the Hindu Jagran Manch, whose members quickly gathered at the spot. Upon inspecting the kitchen, the activists found that vegetarian and non-vegetarian food were being prepared in the same vessels, in clear disregard of religious sensitivities. They notified the Superintendent of Police in Khandwa and demanded immediate action, warning that they would block the highway if the matter was ignored. Responding swiftly, the local police station in charge Dilip Devda and Khandwa DSP (Headquarters) Anil Chauhan reached the location, accompanied by the Tehsildar. A detailed investigation followed, during which Javed admitted to cooking both vegetarian and non-vegetarian items in the same oil and utensils. His admission confirmed the devotees' concerns and drew strong disapproval from the administration. The district authorities sealed Rajveer Dhaba after completing their inquiry. Officials announced that all establishments serving mixed food items would be inspected to uphold public faith and prevent such incidents in the future. Khandwa DSP Anil Chauhan affirmed that the administration would take all necessary steps to ensure that religious sentiments were respected. An FIR was registered against Javed under Sections 299 and 196 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). He was taken into custody by Khandwa police and was scheduled to be presented before the court.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the primary category- Attack on Hindu religious representations. Within this, the subcategory selected is- Defiling Religious customs. Sanatan Dharma is not a religion of one book, which is to say that while it has religious scriptures that form the central tenets of the faith, there are several traditions followed through thousands of years, mostly passed from generation to generation orally. There are several such customs and traditions that are followed by various Hindus and Hindu sects. Defiling of these traditions and customs is a breach of an individual or group’s religious practices. Such practices can range from dietary restrictions like not eating non-vegetarian food for a certain period of the year, not eating non-vegetarian food at all, not eating beef since the cow is considered holy in Hinduism, the sanctity of religious customs followed in the house (like many ISCKON devotees), etc. Any malicious action leading to the breach of such traditions or defilement of these traditions owing to animosity towards the faith or for the sake of activism stems not only from the lack of faith in the religion itself but also from disregard for the faith of the devotees who follow the customs/traditions and implicit bias against the faith, the tradition itself. Since these specific traditions are central to the faith of the devotees of that specific sect of Hindus, any non-compliance with these traditional rules would be considered a religiously motivated hate crime. This incident qualifies as a hate crime against Hindus because it involved the intentional disruption and desecration of a deeply held Hindu religious tradition related to dietary purity during a sacred pilgrimage. Firstly, the premeditated deceit was the Muslim proprietor operating the eatery under a Hindu name, “Rajveer Dhaba.” By adopting a Hindu name, the operator purposely misled Hindu pilgrims into believing the establishment was aligned with their dietary and cultural values. This exploitative tactic took advantage of the trust that Hindu devotees naturally place in businesses that appear to share their faith. Such deceptive practices breach the social contract, especially in a sensitive religious context, and set the stage for further betrayal. Secondly, the Hindu devotees had specifically ordered a vegetarian curry, yet the Muslim perpetrator, guided by the intention to defile their religious beliefs, mixed meat into the food. This act was not an accident or a misunderstanding; it was a calculated assault on the dietary codes integral to Hindu religious observance. By feeding meat to Hindu devotees who were on a spiritual journey, the perpetrator intended to violate, humiliate, and corrupt a core aspect of Hindu practice. Such actions are not isolated incidents; rather, they are well-calculated efforts to defile Hindu customs and offend the beliefs of Hindus. Such acts are rooted in religious hostility and hatred towards Hinduism and the Hindu community, making it a religiously motivated crime. Serving meat to Hindu pilgrims was not just a matter of breaking dietary preferences; it was a direct desecration of religious customs. For Hindus, pilgrimage and ritual fasting or abstinence from meat are sacred and inseparable parts of worship, especially during events like Guru Purnima. The intentional contamination of their food amounted to a spiritual attack, a desecration rooted in religious animosity. This act specifically targeted Hindus as a group, marking them out for defilement precisely because of their faith. Hence, this case is being added to the hate crime database.
Case Status
Case sub-judice
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
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