Delhi Police Tracks Restaurants via Packaging, Asks Them To Stop Sending Free Food to Jantar Mantar Protest Site: Report

Delhi Police is allegedly using discarded wrappers and packaging found at the Jantar Mantar protest site to track down restaurants and cafes, and asking them to stop supplying free food or making bulk deliveries to the venue, The Indian Express reported. The owners of several cafes and restaurants told the publication that Delhi Police officers visited them and went through the records of orders placed and deliveries made over the last few days, with some eateries asked to furnish proof of both paid and free orders sent to the protest site.

How Restaurants Were Traced And Questioned

According to The Indian Express, some restaurants and cafes claimed they were also summoned to police stations. The owner of one restaurant, which has supplied around 800 pieces of food items daily on average to Jantar Mantar over the last three days, said Delhi Police officers reached their South Delhi store on Thursday, enquiring about those running it and asking why its food was available at the protest site in large quantities. The staff were told the store was tracked through the packaging material found at the site. What Is the NSA Order Notification Issued by Delhi Police? Here’s Why It Is Not Linked to CJP Protests.

"We were not at the store when the officers came. They asked for details from our staff and, via them, summoned us to the police station," the owner told The Indian Express, adding that they went to the police station the same night.

'Anti-Social Elements' Availing Food, Owner Says Police Told Them

"The inspector there told us that many anti-social elements present at the protests were availing of our food and essentially asked us to refrain from sending more stuff. They also asked us about any bulk orders that we received through online platforms like Swiggy and Zomato, and then told us that such orders should raise red flags for us and we shouldn't service them. Since then, almost everyone in our family has advised us not to send food to the protests, and I guess that's the police's whole point, to create that kind of an intimidating environment," the owner said, as per The Indian Express report.

Apart from volunteers bringing and distributing free food at Jantar Mantar since the protest began on June 20, supporters from across India and overseas have been sending meals, snacks, and bottled water through delivery apps. Several local eateries had also sent free food to the site and posted social media announcements offering "a place to pause, take shelter" and "free refreshments" at their premises. Delhi Police File 5 FIRs, Review Over 250 Videos to Identify Suspects in CJP Protest Violence.

A staff member at one such cafe told The Indian Express they deleted their social media post "after the Delhi Police officers came to our premises." The employee added, "They (police) told us that our food packaging was found at the protest site and asked us details about our orders sent there. We had to show them details of the deliveries we had made for orders booked through the food delivery apps. We were asked about free orders also and were asked to refrain from sending those."

Queries sent by The Indian Express to Delhi Police on the matter remained unanswered until press time.

Delhi Police Denies Ban On Food Delivery Apps

In a "traffic advisory" posted on X, Delhi Traffic Police said, "In view of the prohibitory orders under Section 163 BNSS, 2023, citizens are advised to avoid unnecessary travel to the notified area and use alternate routes wherever possible. App-based mobility, ride-hailing, food delivery, logistics and e-commerce platforms are advised to regulate operations in the restricted area for the duration of the prohibitory orders to support public safety and maintain law & order."

In a separate post, Delhi Police said, "Rumours are circulating on social media claiming that Delhi Police has imposed a ban on food delivery app services across the New Delhi area. This claim is completely false, baseless, and misleading. Delhi Police has not imposed any ban on food delivery services in the New Delhi area."

Industry Voice: 'Attempt To Curb All Avenues'

A senior executive from the restaurant industry told The Indian Express, "The government and police are trying to curb all avenues that are helping the protest retain, and build on, its momentum. Connectivity is impacted due to frequent internet shutdowns, metro services near Jantar Mantar and adjoining areas have been impacted, and now there is an attempt to ensure that food does not enter the site as easily as it has so far."

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 25, 2026 11:51 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).