A session court denied bail to 14 Muslim men on Wednesday, who were accused of eating chicken and discarding the bones in the river Ganga during iftar on a boat in Varanasi. Earlier, on March 23 this year, their bail plea was rejected by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate. It was observed that the posting on social media platforms demonstrated that the intention was to intentionally disturb communal peace. “Posting the said video on social media prima facie proves that the said incident was committed with the objective of affecting social harmony,” the court said in its order.
The Case
A case was registered against fourteen Muslim men in Varanasi after they were seen holding an iftar gathering on the river, eating non-veg, and dumping it in the river. On 15 March earlier this year, the video of the gathering went viral on the social media platform, triggering controversy.
The video demonstrates a group of Muslim men seated on a moving boat in the river, breaking their fast with chicken biryani being served on the plates. A complaint was filed by Rajat Jaiswal, city president of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha.
These fourteen persons were identified as Azad Ali, Aamir Kaiki, Danish Saifi, Mohammed Ahmad, Nehal Afridi, Mahfooz Alam, Mohammed Anas, Mohammed Awwal, Mohammed Tahseem, Mohammed Ahmad alias Raja, Mohammed Noor Ismail, Mohammed Tausif Ahmad, Mohd Faizan, and Mohammed Sameer.
Based on a complaint filed by Rajat Jaiswal, city president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, a case was registered against the youths.
“The Ganga is a central symbol of faith in Sanatan Dharma, and lakhs of devotees visit it daily. Consuming chicken biryani on a boat in the sacred waters during iftar and allegedly throwing leftovers into the river is highly unfortunate and condemnable. It has deeply hurt the sentiments of followers of Sanatan Dharma. Such actions by these youths appear to deliberately promote a jihadi mindset,” Jaiswal said in his complaint.
He further alleged that this was done “intentionally hurting Hindu sentiments,” and actions should be taken against the men.
“…the police received information that a video was circulating on social media, including Instagram, showing some people having an Iftar party on the Ganga. In the video, a container with chicken biryani was being used, and leftovers were allegedly thrown into the river. Arrests have been made in connection with the incident, and further action is being taken,” ACP Vijay Pratap Singh said.
FIR Registered
The FIR was registered under Sections 298 (defiling a place of worship), 299 (malicious act with intent to outrage religious feelings), 196(1)(B) (promoting enmity), 270 (public nuisance), 279 (fouling water of a public spring or water reservoir), and 223(B) (disobedience of an order duly promulgated by a public servant) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with section 24 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
Later on, Section 308(5) (extortion under threat of death or grievous hurt) was added too, after the boat owners, Anil Sahani and Ranjan Sahani, alleged that the accused men took their boat forcibly.
The gathering was organized by local residents of Varanasi, and a pre-booked boat was arranged. The group reportedly broke the fast and offered namaz on the boat and later ate chicken briyani. Online views split sharply; some defend protecting ‘Mother Ganga’ from pollution, while others call out inconsistent enforcement amid sewage, idol immersions, and other river contaminants.
