Gorakhpur Restaurant Scandal: Veg Thali Controversy Deepens as Youths Accuse Owner of Manipulating CCTV Footage

The Gorakhpur restaurant scandal that shocked food lovers across Uttar Pradesh has taken a dramatic new turn. A group of youths, who earlier accused a popular Gorakhpur restaurant of serving non-veg bones in a veg thali, held a press conference alleging that the restaurant owner manipulated CCTV footage to save his reputation.

The controversy began on July 31, when twelve friends visited the restaurant and found what they claimed was a bone in their vegetarian thali. In response, the restaurant management released CCTV footage, suggesting that the youths themselves had planted the bone to avoid paying the bill. This led to massive outrage on social media, with the youths being branded as fraudsters.

Youths Counter CCTV Claim

At the press conference, youth leader Shashank Singh stated that the viral video was a misrepresentation. According to him, the object shown as a bone in the CCTV was actually a green chili. He further alleged that the restaurant deliberately showed a different plate in the footage while hiding the actual plate containing the bone.

“From the beginning, I had informed the restaurant staff about the issue in the thali. Later, when we saw the video being circulated, it was clear that the owner had twisted the evidence to protect the restaurant’s image,” said Singh.

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Police Probe Backs Youths’ Version

Significantly, the claims are not just limited to the press conference. Sources confirm that government authorities, including SP City, conducted a detailed probe into the case. The investigation reportedly found discrepancies in the restaurant’s CCTV footage, lending weight to the youths’ allegations of manipulation.

Officials indicated that the footage circulated online was not authentic and had been presented in a misleading manner. The investigation suggests that the restaurant tried to cover up the presence of non-veg in the veg thali by creating confusion around the evidence.

Youths Say They Are Defamed

The group of friends stated that since the incident, they have been socially humiliated and labeled dishonest. “We are innocent, but the false narrative has damaged our reputation in society,” Singh said, adding that he has also shared a video statement on social media to clear their name.

The Road Ahead

The Gorakhpur veg thali controversy has now become a serious matter of consumer trust, with questions being raised about food safety, restaurant accountability, and the misuse of social media to manipulate narratives. With the police probe confirming manipulation, the scandal is far from over, and legal consequences for the restaurant cannot be ruled out.