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Nationality Indian — Business / finance / tech

Deepinder Goyal

Documented profile covering 10 controversies, including “« Food doesn't have a religion »: public stance following a customer's refusal to accept delivery from a Muslim” and “Delivery workers' strike in Howrah over pay, with a secondary controversy concerning pork and beef”.

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Profile No. 0008 · Updated on 12 October 2026

10Documented controversies

16Sources

0Formal charge · all time

0Conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

2025-12–2026

Gig workers' strikes and public dispute over pay, exploitation and regulation

No legal proceedings

Gig worker unions organised work stoppages in late 2025, denouncing falling pay, costs borne by delivery workers and operational pressure. Goyal responded that the business model did not rely on exploitation and argued for less regulation.

State of the evidence: Strikes, union demands and Goyal's public responses documented
Legal status — source text: No personal criminal proceedings
Attribution: Executive responsibility and personal statements concerning the employment model

Sources · 2

[1]
YourStoryGig economy needs less regulation: Deepinder Goyal as he defends 10-min deliveriesMediaHigh reliability
[2]
The Indian ExpressTwo gig workers write: This is why those who Deepinder Goyal calls miscreants go on strikeMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 27 August 2026

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2026-01–06

Temple/« Entropy »: scientific criticism of unvalidated claims concerning ageing and metabolism

No legal proceedings

Goyal presented the Temple wearable device, a hypothesis linking gravity, cerebral circulation and ageing, followed by a biomarker named Entropy, purportedly reflecting the body's real-time energy expenditure. Several doctors publicly considered these claims unproven in the absence of peer-reviewed methodology and validation.

State of the evidence: Public claims and criticism from doctors/scientists documented
Legal status — source text: No proceedings
Attribution: Goyal's personal claims concerning a product/research project he is promoting

Sources · 2

[1]
The Indian ExpressDeepinder Goyal's temple device: Neurologist debunks it, says not proven or testedMediaHigh reliability
[2]
India TodayDeepinder Goyal Temple Entropy biomarker claim draws scrutiny from doctorsMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 27 August 2026

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2026-02

Temple seeks 'supremely fit' candidates: legal and discrimination debate

No legal proceedings

In recruiting engineers and scientists for Temple, Goyal stated that he was seeking people who were 'supremely fit' and attached physical criteria to the positions. The decision prompted debate over legality and the risk of employment discrimination.

State of the evidence: Published recruitment criteria and legal debate documented
Legal status — source text: No proceedings
Attribution: Recruitment criteria personally announced

Sources · 1

[1]
MintDeepinder Goyal wants to hire only supremely fit people for a new startup. Is this even allowed legally?MediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 27 August 2026

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2024-03

« Pure Veg Fleet »: reversal of green uniforms following allegations of discrimination

No legal proceedings

Goyal announced a 'Pure Veg' delivery option and fleet identifiable by green uniforms. Trade unions, activists and users expressed concerns about segregation based on caste, religion or the rules of certain residential buildings. Zomato withdrew the colour coding less than 24 hours later.

State of the evidence: Announcement and partial withdrawal documented
Legal status — source text: No proceedings
Attribution: Personal responsibility for the announcement

Sources · 1

[1]
The Indian ExpressZomato scraps green uniform plan for pure veg deliveries after backlashMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 27 August 2026

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2024-11

Chief of Staff position without first-year salary and requiring a 20 lakh contribution, subsequently described as a screening mechanism

No legal proceedings

Goyal advertised a Chief of Staff position offering no salary during the first year and requiring the successful candidate to contribute 20 lakh rupees to Feeding India, prompting widespread criticism concerning access to the position and the normalisation of unpaid work.

State of the evidence: Public announcement and subsequent clarification documented
Legal status — source text: No proceedings

Sources · 2

[1]
Business StandardZomato's Deepinder Goyal receives 10K applications for chief of staff roleMediaHigh reliability
[2]
The Economic TimesDeepinder Goyal's controversial job posting for chief of staff receives flak onlineMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 27 August 2026

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2023-06

« Kachra » advertisement accused of caste discrimination: withdrawal, apology and NCSC notice

Civil / administrative proceedings

A Zomato campaign featured the actor who played the Dalit character Kachra in Lagaan transformed into recycled objects. Following a strong backlash denouncing the advertisement as casteist, Zomato withdrew it and apologised. The NCSC initiated an examination and issued a notice.

State of the evidence: Advertisement, withdrawal, apology and institutional notice documented
Legal status — source text: Notice from the National Commission for Scheduled Castes; no personal conviction found
Attribution: According to several reports, Goyal personally received a notice in his capacity as founder/CEO

Sources · 2

[1]
The Indian ExpressNCSC issues notice to Zomato over controversial Kachra adMediaHigh reliability
[2]
Business StandardNotice to Zomato over casteist Ad: National SC CommissionMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 27 August 2026

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2022-03

Zomato Instant: controversy over delivery workers' safety following the promise of 10-minute deliveries

No legal proceedings

Goyal's announcement of a ten-minute meal delivery service prompted criticism over concerns that it could encourage dangerous driving and increased pressure on delivery workers.

State of the evidence: Announcement and public criticism documented
Legal status — source text: No proceedings
Attribution: Initiative personally announced and defended by Goyal

Sources · 2

[1]
Reuters / Investing.comIndia's Zomato faces heat for plans to deliver food in 10 minutesMediaHigh reliability
[2]
The Indian ExpressSafe for delivery partners: Zomato CEO clarifies stance on 10-minute delivery planMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 27 August 2026

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2020

FIR in Prayagraj over a commercial dispute with a restaurant, subsequently settled and quashed

Case dismissed / dropped

A restaurant filed an FIR alleging breach of trust and cheating in a commercial dispute with Zomato concerning revenue targets and payments. The parties reached a settlement of approximately 42.78 lakh rupees.

State of the evidence: FIR, settlement and quashing judgment documented
Legal status — source text: FIR and proceedings quashed on 18 December 2020 following settlement
Attribution: Deepinder Goyal was personally a petitioner/CEO; no guilt established

Sources · 1

[1]
Allahabad High Court / Indian KanoonDeepinder Goyal vs State Of U.P. And 3 OthersCourt recordPrimary source

Last verified: 27 August 2026

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2019-07

« Food doesn't have a religion »: public stance following a customer's refusal to accept delivery from a Muslim

No legal proceedings

After a customer refused a Muslim delivery worker and requested a replacement, Zomato declined and stated that food had no religion. Deepinder Goyal publicly defended this position, saying he did not regret losing business that conflicted with the company's values.

State of the evidence: Public exchanges documented
Legal status — source text: No proceedings

Sources · 1

[1]
ForbesFood Doesn't Have A Religion: Did Zomato Do The Right Thing?MediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 27 August 2026

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2019-08

Delivery workers' strike in Howrah over pay, with a secondary controversy concerning pork and beef

No legal proceedings

Zomato delivery workers in Howrah stopped working following an alleged reduction in delivery rates. Some also claimed they were being forced to deliver pork or beef contrary to their religious beliefs.

State of the evidence: Strike, delivery workers' accounts and Goyal's personal response documented
Legal status — source text: No judicial proceedings
Attribution: Executive responsibility for pay rates; workers' grievances not automatically established

Sources · 2

[1]
The Indian ExpressBehind Zomato beef-pork delivery protest in Howrah: a pay cut and a local BJP leaderMediaHigh reliability
[2]
The Indian ExpressZomato founder Deepinder Goyal says Bengal protests about pay, not about food, faithMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 27 August 2026

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II. Constellation of documented links

No documented link with another published profile for now.

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

III. Has something changed?

A new court decision, a missing source, a mistake? Tell us what should be updated: every request is read by the editorial team.