Served chicken biryani instead of veg, customer ‘guns down’ Ranchi restaurant owner
According to police sources, the unidentified customer had ordered veg biryani to take home, and found out only after getting home that he had received chicken biryani. After this, he went back to the eatery and allegedly shot the owner.
Written by Shubham Tigga
Ranchi | Updated: October 20, 2025 07:09 AM IST
3 min read
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Family members staged a protest, demanding that police arrest all the accused within 24 hours, warning that they would otherwise launch a large-scale protest in the city.
A restaurant owner in Ranchi was shot dead allegedly by a customer who was served non-vegetarian biryani instead of the vegetarian one that he had purportedly ordered.
According to police, the incident took place on Saturday night. Police sources said the unidentified customer had ordered vegetarian biryani and took the parcel home, only to realise later that he had got the chicken version of the dish. He then called the restaurant owner, identified as 50-year-old Vijay Nag, and argued with him over the phone.
According to officers, matters escalated after the phone conversation. At around 11.30 pm, when Vijay Nag was having dinner at his restaurant, the angry customer went back there in a car with three of his associates. After a brief conversation, a heated exchange took place, which led to pushing and shoving between those involved, sources said.
“In the middle of the scuffle, the customer pulled out a gun and shot Vijay in the chest before fleeing the scene,” an officer said.
When people rushed to the spot after hearing the gunshot, they found Vijay lying on the floor. The assailants allegedly quickly fled the scene in their car.
Vijay was immediately taken to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi, where doctors declared him dead.
Police staff from Kanke police station, along with other senior officials, then went to the scene of the crime and began barricading the area to trace and catch the shooters.
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Kanke MLA and Congress leader Suresh Kumar Baitha told the media, “It is said that four men came at night and ordered vegetarian food, but later found chicken bones in it, which escalated the matter. Suddenly, the customer pulled out his gun and fired at Vijay.”
Baitha further said the case may not be limited to the biryani dispute alone, and claimed that a property dispute could also be involved, since some people allegedly had their eyes on Vijay’s property.
Family members staged a protest, demanding that police arrest all the accused within 24 hours, warning that they would otherwise launch a large-scale protest in the city. Meanwhile, police officers said they are examining CCTV footage to trace and arrest the shooters as soon as possible.
Shubham Tigga is a Correspondent at The Indian Express, presently based in Pune, where he covers the intersections of infrastructure, labor, and the modern economy. His reporting focuses on civil aviation, urban mobility, the gig economy, and workers' unions, providing critical insights into how transit and commercial sectors impact the daily lives of citizens.
Expertise & Background
Before moving to Pune, he reported extensively from his home state of Chhattisgarh, where he focused on Indigenous (Adivasi) issues, environmental justice, and grassroots struggles in mainland India. This experience gives him a unique lens through which he analyzes the impact of large-scale infrastructure projects on local communities.
Academic Foundation
He is an alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), where he honed his skills in investigative reporting and ethical journalism. His academic training, combined with his field experience in Central India, allows him to navigate complex socio-economic landscapes with nuance and accuracy.
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