Delhi Food Joints Exposed: Hygiene Violations, License Racket, No Oversight
An India Today special investigation by Nitin Jain exposes shocking hygiene violations and regulatory lapses at popular eateries in Delhi's Karkardooma. At Shri Radhe Krishna Food Joint, known for chole bhature, the team found damp, debris-ridden walls, peeling ceilings, and staff sitting on the floor to prepare food. The outlet's owner claimed that an FSSAI licence could easily be procured over the phone or delivered directly to home for around two thousand rupees without any official visiting for physical inspections. The investigation also visited another local establishment, Radhe Shyam Chole Bhature, where staff operated without protective head covers and conceded that pest control measures fail to stop rats from entering the kitchen. Across both establishments, food handlers admitted that administrative inspections and compliance norms were routinely bypassed, revealing an absence of fear of regulatory consequences despite serving hundreds of daily customers.