Cloud kitchen owner alleges police threats over late-night operations; Delhi Police denies charge

A 247 cloud kitchen in southwest Delhis Vasant Kunj has alleged that police personnel threatened its workers for continuing operations beyond 10 pm, prompting it to shut late-night services. Preventive action was taken to maintain law and order and curb theft incidents, police said on X.

A 24/7 cloud kitchen in southwest Delhi's Vasant Kunj has alleged that police personnel threatened its workers for continuing operations beyond 10 pm, prompting it to shut late-night services. The Delhi Police, however, have denied any misconduct, saying action was taken to maintain law and order. Glisco Kitchens owner Gagandeep Singh Sapra shared on X that the issue began on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday when police warned the outlet to close by 10 pm. Despite attempts to seek clarification, he claimed that three officers visited again around 9.40 pm the next day and reiterated that the kitchen could not operate at night due to recent thefts in the area. ''The explanation given to us was that there have been thefts nearby, and therefore, we cannot operate at night. We were also told that if we want to continue, we must hire private security guards,'' Sapra said. He further alleged that staff were threatened and later asked for a ''bribe'' to continue operations. Following the repeated visits, the outlet stopped its night services. Sapra said the decision has affected at least six employees. Meanwhile, the Delhi Police refuted the allegations, stating that excessive late-night movement and congestion caused by delivery vehicles had led to complaints from residents. ''During night patrolling, overcrowding was observed. On inquiry, the operators could not produce valid permissions for late-night operations. Preventive action was taken to maintain law and order and curb theft incidents,'' police said on X.