Restaurant owner Arshad arrested
(‘Vishu’ festival marks the New Year for the Malayali community; ‘Chicken mandi’ refers to a non-veg dish of chicken with rice).
Alappuzha, Kerala – In Cherthala, in Alappuzha district of Kerala, police have arrested the Muslim owner of a restaurant after a ‘Vishu’ greeting poster depicted a plate of ‘chicken mandi’ (a non-vegetarian dish of chicken with rice) placed before an image of Bhagwan Shri Krishna.
The poster, circulated on social media in the name of ‘Mehr Mandi & Grills’, a restaurant located near Manorama Junction in Cherthala, was shared on the occasion of ‘Vishu’, the New Year festival of the Malayali community. The poster showed an image of Shri Krishna with a plate of chicken mandi placed in front of it.
Hindu organisations expressed strong anger, alleging that the image hurt religious sentiments. Advocate M.V. Biju filed a complaint in this regard. Based on this complaint, police registered a case against the restaurant owner, Arshad, and arrested him. The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has also announced a protest outside the restaurant.
On Vishu, Meher Mandi & Grills A Hotel group from Cherthala, kerala used Lord Krishna to promote a non veg dish.🚨🚨
A sacred festival, a revered deity, Used to sell chicken on a plate.🤬🤬Who approved this?
Who thought this was fine?
Would they dare to do this with ISLAM &… pic.twitter.com/tyaP5IGH90— MAHARATHI (@MahaRathii) April 16, 2026
After the controversy escalated, the restaurant’s managing partner, Shameem, issued an unconditional apology on Instagram. Prominent Kerala-based Muslim leader Ustad Ansari Suhari also condemned the incident through a Facebook video. He stated, “It is not necessary that you must extend Vishu greetings, however, do not spread communal hatred in the name of greetings. Such actions create unrest in society.” He also warned that certain mistakes can prove to be very serious.