A biryani shop owner in Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli has been arrested over a promotional banner depicting Lord Ganesha in chicken biryani. The banner was posted outside a Dindigul Kalyana Biryani outlet near VM Chatram on the Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur main road and drew criticism from residents during the Vinayaka Chaturthi festival.
The banner was put up as part of the shop’s promotional campaign over the festive period, according to reports. The advertisement depicted Lord Ganesha preparing or associated with chicken biryani. During the festival season, the creative was used to draw customers. It became a controversy when the image appeared on social media.
The Vinayaka Chaturthi festival is celebrated all around Tamil Nadu and other parts of India. It is dedicated to Lord Ganesha and is celebrated with religious ceremonies, public celebrations, and Ganesha idols. Because of that, a lot of local people did not like the deity in a food advertisement that was based on non-vegetarian foods.
The banner caused anger among some of the local community, who wanted the banner taken down and action taken against those who put it up. Photographs of the advertisement spread across the web, and a police complaint was filed.
A 42-year-old resident of Nellai Narasimhannallur, Selvaraj, approached the police at the Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital station and filed a complaint about the banner. He said the portrayal of Lord Ganesha in this manner was insulting to Hindu beliefs.
The complainant asked for strict action against the banner’s owners. Police then took action against the owner of the establishment in the wake of the complaint and the subsequent controversy.
The shop owner was later arrested, the report said. The police filed a case under Section 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage the religious feelings of a class of citizens. The case is connected to the intent and circumstances of the display.
Day by day, the search for new ways to offend Hindu sentiments .
— Nambiar Adarsh Narayanan P V 🪷 (@Adarsh4BJP) September 14, 2026
A person named M. Jayanth from Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, allegedly used Ganesh Ji’s image to promote chicken biryani.@actorvijay Anna, what’s happening? 😡 @TVKVijayHQ @tnpoliceoffl #गणेश_चतुर्थी #जयगणेश #Hindu pic.twitter.com/fK5Hfbtuoa
This case shows the sensitivity around religious symbols and figures in commercial advertising and their relevance for the market. Festival-based promotions are generally the first promotions companies implement with the festival in mind, and almost all businesses do so at the peak during major celebrations. However, religious figures can provoke strong public reactions if they are seen as inappropriate or disrespectful.
In this case, the use of Lord Ganesha in a banner for chicken biryani was especially controversial because of the deity's religious significance. The store intended it as a banner for promotion on Vinayaka Chaturthi, but residents saw the situation differently and filed suit.
The controversy also shows how rapidly local promotional materials can spread to a wider audience via social media. An advertisement for one locality can reach a much larger audience much faster if photographs or videos are posted online. This can quickly escalate a local dispute into a larger public debate.
Police will investigate the circumstances behind the creation and display of the banner as part of the investigation. The allegations against the shop owner will be subject to legal action, and the registration of a case or arrest does not by itself establish guilt. Any further legal action will depend on the evidence collected during the investigation and subsequent proceedings.
It has drawn attention outside Tirunelveli as it touches on religious sentiments, commercial advertising, as well as religious imagery. It also sends a signal to businesses to be mindful in creating promotional campaigns around religious festivals.
As the investigation is ongoing, the Ganesha-based biryani advertisement will continue to be the talk of Tirunelveli and the Internet. Police action following the complaint has taken this matter to the legal domain, where the situation and allegations will now be investigated through the appropriate process.
