'Taang Tod Doonga': Delhi Cloud Kitchen Owner Accuses Police Of Threats, Forced Night Shutdown, Bribe Demand

Cloud kitchen owner said Delhi Police told him his Vasant Kunj outlet could not operate after 10 pm because thefts had been reported in the area. He claimed officers said the business could continue only if private security guards were hired.

Cloud kitchen owner accuses police of bribe demand

A cloud kitchen operating round the clock in Delhi's Vasant Kunj has accused police officers of threatening staff, forcing the outlet to shut after 10 pm, and even demanding regular payments to allow it to continue operating.

The allegations were made by Gagandeep Singh Sapra, owner of Glisco Kitchens. He shared his experience on social media, where his posts quickly drew widespread attention.

Delhi Police has strongly denied any wrongdoing. The force said no misconduct by its officers had been found so far.

The case has now sparked a debate about ease of doing business, police powers, and the difficulties faced by late-night businesses in the capital.

What happened at the cloud kitchen

According to Sapra, the trouble began in the early hours of April 27.

He said a few men wearing Delhi Police uniforms entered the kitchen at around 2:30 am while it was fully operational. Staff were preparing orders, and kitchen equipment, gas lines, and electrical systems were in use.

Sapra said the officers ordered them to shut down immediately.

As the kitchen was active at that moment, the staff complied to avoid any safety risk.

The kitchen, located in Masoodpur near Vasant Kunj, operates 24 hours a day and serves customers late into the night as well as early in the morning.

Allegation of threats

Sapra later made a serious allegation against the officers.

In a post on X, he claimed one officer threatened him, saying, "Taang tod doonga. 10 baje ke baad kitchen kholi toh dekh lena."

He said the same pattern continued the following night.

According to him, three officers returned at around 9:40 pm on Monday. Two were in uniform, while one was in plain clothes. He claimed one of them appeared to be a senior officer.

Sapra said the officers questioned why the kitchen was operating as a multi-brand setup.

Complaint was allegedly not accepted

Sapra's wife, Harpreet Kaur Sapra, said she filed a written complaint on April 27.

However, the family alleges that police did not officially register it.

Sapra said he tried several channels for help.

He called 112, sent emails at around 3 am, and even filed a grievance with the Lieutenant Governor's office.

He later posted online, saying they turned to social media only after getting no response through official channels.

What explanation did police allegedly give

Sapra said the officers told him that several thefts, including motorcycle thefts, had taken place in the area.

According to him, police said the cloud kitchen could not remain open at night because of these incidents.

He further alleged that officers told him the business could continue only if it hired private security guards and posted them outside the building.

Sapra publicly questioned this reasoning, asking why a legitimate food business should be forced to stop operations due to unrelated criminal activity nearby.

Bribery allegation

Sapra also accused police personnel of suggesting that informal payments could solve the issue.

He claimed that when he called the police helpline, the officers sent to assist were the same people who had earlier visited the outlet.

According to Sapra, the officers told him his complaint would not be accepted.

He alleged they said, "Aap apni setting kar lo, jo dena hota hai mahine ka do."

In simple terms, Sapra claimed the officers suggested paying a monthly bribe.

This is one of the most serious allegations made in the case.

Business impact

Sapra said the forced shutdown has badly affected operations.

He claimed the kitchen suffered a 35% revenue loss in just one day.

Night-time operations at the Vasant Kunj outlet have now been suspended.

He said six specially trained employees are currently sitting idle and worried about their jobs.

Sapra added that his company employs around 15 people at each kitchen.

He said hardworking staff were treated unfairly despite simply trying to serve customers.

Delhi Police's response

Delhi Police has denied all allegations of threats and bribery.

In a statement posted on X, the police said no misconduct or wrongful intent had been found on the part of its personnel.

The force also invited Sapra to file a detailed complaint with evidence so that its Vigilance Department could investigate.

This means an internal inquiry could still take place if formal evidence is submitted.

Why police say action was taken

Delhi Police gave a very different version of events.

According to the police, Masoodpur Dairy has recently seen multiple thefts, including motorcycle thefts.

Police said local enquiries and beat staff inputs showed that several cloud kitchens in Dairy No. 31 and Dairy No. 7 were causing heavy congestion.

They said large numbers of delivery vehicles were parked in the area, leading to traffic problems.

Residents had also reportedly complained about late-night activity and constant movement.

Licence issue raised by police

Police said that during night patrolling at around 2 am on April 27, officers noticed overcrowding near the kitchens.

They said operators were asked to produce licences required for late-night operations.

According to Delhi Police, the operators failed to provide valid documents.

As a result, police said preventive action was taken to close the establishments temporarily.

They maintained that the action was aimed at maintaining law and order and preventing crime.

Owner rejects police explanation

Sapra has openly challenged the police version. He posted that the explanation about congestion raises more questions than answers.

He also shared a video online, asking officials to explain their actions clearly.

Sapra said his company pays taxes, creates jobs, and tries to follow all rules.

He argued that business owners deserve guidance, not threats.

Wider questions raised

The case has raised important questions.

Can a 24/7 licensed business be forced to close without written orders?

What rules apply to late-night cloud kitchens in residential-commercial areas?

How should police handle complaints from business owners?

Many people online have supported Sapra and called for an independent investigation.

Others have said businesses must strictly follow all local licensing requirements.

Sapra says his kitchen has stopped operating at night. Delhi Police says it is ready to investigate if a formal complaint with proof is submitted.

The outcome could be important for many other cloud kitchens and late-night businesses across Delhi.

It may also determine whether the allegations of threats and bribery lead to disciplinary action.

Until then, the Vasant Kunj cloud kitchen row continues to attract attention.