New Delhi: A dispute at a tea stall in Uttar Pradesh’s Fatehpur has spiralled into a political flashpoint, with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav’s public backing of a local chaiwala triggering protests by members of the Muslim community and drawing competing claims from all sides.

It was a special day for Aryan Yadav, a tea stall owner in Uttar Pradesh’s Fatehpur district. On February 20, 2026, former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav stopped by his stall. Photographs were clicked as the 21-year-old stood next to Yadav’s car, offering him tea in a kulhad (earthen cup).

Aryan, who is also a digital creator, shared the moment on his Facebook page, ‘Aryan Comedian’, which has around 14,000 followers. The video of him serving tea to Akhilesh garnered over 31,000 likes.

Soon after, his life began to spiral.

The inspection being done at Aryan Yadav’s tea stall. Photo: Video screengrab.

On April 15, officials from Fatehpur’s Food and Civil Supplies Department visited Aryan’s tea stall in the Chauki Chouraha area. He was informed that the visit was prompted by an IGRS complaint regarding the quality of tea. IGRS (Integrated Grievance Redressal System) is an online platform through which the public can file complaints in Uttar Pradesh.

Videos of the inspection later surfaced, showing officials examining the stall and conducting tests on the tea being prepared.

Speaking to local media in Fatehpur, Rajesh Kumar Dixit, Assistant Commissioner in the Food and Civil Supplies Department, said, “We had received a complaint via IGRS, following which a food safety officer conducted an inspection on April 15. Owing to concerns about the quality of tea, samples of tea leaves have been sent for testing. His licence is valid till July 2028.”

Dixit did not disclose the full name of the complainant during his interaction with reporters, but said the complaint had been filed by an ‘Ahmed, son of Raees’.

Face-off over payment for tea

On April 17, an altercation broke out between Aryan and some Muslim customers at his shop. According to accounts shared by those named in the FIR, what began as an argument over payment escalated into a physical confrontation, with allegations that Aryan assaulted a minor.

However, in an FIR dated April 17, 2026, filed by Aryan’s father, Sheshmani Yadav, at Fatehpur’s Sultanpur Ghosh police station, it was alleged that “as part of a well-organised plan, a group of men entered the shop, stole money, and molested [his] wife and daughter while hurling verbal abuse.” Those named in the FIR include Jarjees Ahmed, Qayoom Ahmed, Yasin Ahmed and Javed Ahmed, along with 16-17 unidentified persons.

The FIR, a copy of which was accessed by The Wire, was registered under Sections 191(2) (rioting), 309 (robbery), 74 (assault or criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage modesty), 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 351(3) (criminal intimidation) and 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt)........

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