'I Told Them the Water Was Boiling': Jaipur Momo Seller Badly Burnt by Police
A 22-year-old Jaipur momo vendor suffered severe burns after boiling water allegedly spilled during a police eviction drive ahead of the Chief Minister's convoy.
On 19 June 2026, 22-year-old Reshu Gupta, who runs a momo cart in Box02, Jaipur, suffered severe burn injuries during a police clearance drive.
At around 6:45 pm, police were removing roadside vendors ahead of Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma's convoy. As officers asked vendors to clear the area, an argument broke out.
Reshu had just begun setting up her stall near the Akshaya Patra Temple with a vessel of boiling water for cooking momos. She claims she requested a few moments to move the cart herself because the water was extremely hot. According to her, the police ignored her request and pushed the cart, causing the boiling water to spill over her body. She sustained burns on nearly 50–60% of her body, including her chest, shoulders, stomach, arms and thighs.
On 22 June, her sister Khushboo Gupta filed an FIR against the police. The family, originally from Ambedkar Nagar in Uttar Pradesh, lost their father to Covid-19 in 2020 and now depends on the momo cart as their primary source of income.
Police, however, deny deliberately pushing the cart, saying the incident occurred during the clearance operation and that the exact sequence of events is under investigation. CCTV footage is being examined to determine responsibility.
Seven days after the incident, Constable Narendra Kumar was suspended after the FIR alleged that force was used without prior warning.
The Rajasthan government announced it would cover Reshu's medical expenses, provide financial assistance and allot the family a government dairy booth for a stable livelihood. Officials from the Greater Jaipur Municipal Corporation also visited the family and assured them of support.
The next hearing is scheduled for 14 July 2026. Meanwhile, Opposition leaders have criticised the Rajasthan government, while investigators continue examining CCTV footage and other evidence to establish what really happened.
