Members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vandalised a branch of the well-known Karachi Bakery in Hyderabad on Saturday, demanding that the chain of Indian retail bakeries change its name.
The incident, which occurred at the bakery’s Shamshabad outlet around 3 PM, is part of a larger campaign that has seen right-wing groups target businesses with names associated with Pakistan.
According to Telangana police, those involved in the protest have been identified as BJP workers and have been booked for their actions.
“No bakery staff were injured, and there was no significant damage,” said K Balaraju, inspector at the RGI Airport Police Station, speaking to The Indian Express.
“We arrived at the scene within minutes and were able to disperse the group belonging to the political organisation.”
Police have confirmed that during the protest, the group defaced signage and attempted to intimidate staff while raising slogans.
The protesters reportedly insisted that the name “Karachi” — which refers to a city in Pakistan — be dropped, despite the bakery’s long-standing presence and ownership by an Indian family.
This is not the first time Karachi Bakery has been targeted. Just last week, individuals were seen placing Indian national flags at the entrance of the bakery’s Banjara Hills branch, another targeted gesture aimed at questioning its identity.
Established in 1953 at Mozamjahi Market in Hyderabad, Karachi Bakery was founded by a family who migrated from Pakistan to India during the Partition. Today, the brand is operated by Rajesh and Harish Ramnani, and has grown into a well-known bakery chain with outlets across major cities including Delhi, Bengaluru, and Chennai.
In Hyderabad alone, it runs 24 branches and is particularly famous for its fruit biscuits and Osmania cookies.
“We are an Indian enterprise. It is unfair to label us as Pakistani,” a manager from the bakery told The Indian Express.
This is not the first instance of vandalism targeting the bakery. In 2019, following the Pulwama attack, the brand faced similar hostility and threats. The owners had even approached the state government seeking protection.
In light of the latest incident, police registered a case under Sections 126 (2) and 324 (4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deal with wrongful restraint and property damage.
“Protesters damaged the bakery’s signboard,” Balaraju confirmed. However, no arrests have been made so far.
While no injuries were reported, the act is being widely seen as part of a growing pattern of harassment and intimidation aimed at symbols perceived — however inaccurately — as foreign, amid heightened political rhetoric around nationalism.
 vandalised a branch of the well-known Karachi Bakery in Hyderabad on Saturday, demanding that the chain of Indian retail bakeries change its name.){kind=link}