In a sweeping enforcement move, authorities in Hyderabad have begun removing signboards from numerous eateries that were using the name “Santosh Dabha” (or similar variants) without authorization. The action was taken in localities such as Secunderabad, Attapur, Begum Bazaar and Abids.

The impetus for the crackdown came following a petition by Manoj Kumar Sankla, the proprietor of the original “Santosh Dabha” outlet located in Abids. He alleged that dozens of other restaurants were freely adopting his brand name to draw customers, which he argued amounted to misuse of his business identity.

According to his lawyer, the case has been active for over two and a half years, and in that time nearly 50–60 illicit signboards have already been removed. The court has instructed officials to seize the properties of restaurants found using the name illegally and to prepare evidence, which is to be presented in a forthcoming hearing.

Further investigations revealed that within a span of approximately 15 km from the original eatery, food-service listings named at least five to six “dhabas” with the same brand name, often added with prefixes or suffixes. Such proliferation under the same brand identity raised serious concerns of trademark confusion and unfair competition.

The court’s order mandates physical removal of offending hoardings and signage, and seizure of assets in some cases, as part of a broader effort to protect brand rights and maintain clarity in the business marketplace in Hyderabad.