Eight traders in Bahraich booked after a complaint from a Lucknow firm, while Muslims question double standards and rising pressure from Hindu groups
BAHRAICH/LUCKNOW — A case registered in Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich district over the alleged misuse of the trademark “Bismillah” has opened a wider debate on double standards faced by Muslim traders, especially when religious names, halal products, and Muslim-run businesses come under scrutiny.
Police have registered an FIR against eight traders on charges of copyright violation and cheating after a complaint by Vijay Agrawal, owner of Bhagwati Traders, a food products firm based in Lucknow’s Pandeyganj area. The case was filed at Kotwali Dehat police station on the orders of the Superintendent of Police.
In his complaint, Agrawal said his company holds the registered trademark “Bismillah” and sells halal food products across the country. He alleged that traders in Bahraich were selling low-quality and adulterated food items using fake bags and packets carrying his brand name.
“People were being cheated in the name of my company,” Agrawal said. “This damaged our reputation and also put public health at risk.”
According to the complaint, Agrawal sent his nephew Vishal Mittal to Bahraich, where he reportedly found rice and other food items being sold at several grocery shops in bags printed with the “Bismillah” trademark. Police said the case has been registered under Section 63 of the Copyright Act and Section 318(4) of the Indian Penal Code, related to cheating.
Those named in the FIR include Savita Malani, Savitri Devi Malani, Nitesh Kumar Malani, Narendra Kumar Malani, Amit Agrawal alias Tinku, and Manzoor. Separate cases were also filed against Ajay Agrawal and Manmeet in the Dargah police station area.
While the legal case focuses on trademark use, Muslim traders say the larger issue is bias. “When a non-Muslim uses an Islamic name like ‘Bismillah’ for business, it is accepted,” said a local Muslim shopkeeper. “But when a Muslim keeps a common or Hindu-sounding name, there is anger and even threats.”
Such concerns are not new. In Dehradun, a Muslim salon owner was recently forced by members of a Hindu group to change his shop name, ‘Sagar’. The owner later said, “Sagar is my son’s name. Still, I was pressured to change it.”
Similar incidents have been reported from several states, where Muslim traders say they were asked to rename shops or faced intimidation.
The issue also links to ongoing protests by Hindu groups against halal certification. Three years ago, the Uttar Pradesh government took action against halal-certified products and banned organisations like Halal India Private Limited and Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind Halal Trust, accusing them of issuing illegal certificates.
A Muslim businessman from Lucknow said, “Halal is about food rules for Muslims. It is not a threat to anyone. Yet Muslim traders were harassed after the ban.”
Data from official records show that large Indian companies and even government-backed exporters supply halal-certified products to over 50 Muslim-majority countries. India recently signed an agreement with Oman, where the Omani government recognised halal certification issued by Indian authorities for meat exports.
An export official said, “Halal certification is needed for global trade. It is part of business, not religion-based politics.”
Muslim leaders say the Bahraich case should be handled strictly as a legal matter, not turned into a tool against a community. “If there is misuse of a trademark, law must take its course,” said a community representative. “But Muslims should not be targeted for their faith, food, or business names.”
As the investigation continues, many hope that trade laws, religious freedom, and equal treatment will be upheld without fear or favour.
