Varanasi Iftar On The Ganga Case: UP Police Arrests 14 For Hurting Religious Sentiments And Offences

An Iftar party held on boats on the Ganga River has triggered controversy in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Police said 14 men were arrested after a complaint alleged they ate chicken biryani during iftar and threw leftovers into the river, an act claimed to hurt religious sentiments.

Following the complaint, Varanasi Police registered a case against the group under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Officials stated that investigation is underway into both the meal onboard and the claim that food remains, including bones, were allegedly dumped into the Ganga during the Iftar party.

Iftar party on Ganga: case details and sections invoked

As reported earlier, officers booked the men under multiple BNS sections linked to religious hurt, public nuisance and water fouling. The case covers alleged actions during the Iftar party on boats on the Ganga River and focuses on whether their conduct was intentional and aimed at provoking religious feelings in Varanasi.

The registered offences include defiling a place of worship, promoting enmity and causing public nuisance. Officials also cited provisions dealing with water pollution and disobedience of lawful orders. These are the sections mentioned by authorities:

Iftar party complaint on Ganga and role of BJYM

The case began after a video from the Iftar party on the Ganga went viral on X. Varanasi city Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha president Rajat Jaiswal filed a complaint, alleging the 14 men ate chicken biryani on boats and then deliberately tossed food scraps and chicken bones into the river.

According to the complaint, the act during the Iftar party on the Ganga was aimed at insulting Hindu beliefs. Jaiswal stated that the group discarded chicken biryani and bones into the water "deliberately" to offend religious feelings. Police said this allegation forms a key part of their ongoing inquiry into the incident.

Jaiswal further stressed the importance of the river for many devotees. Jaiswal said, "The Ganga holds deep and unshakeable faith for followers of Sanatan Dharma. Thousands of devotees from across the country and the world visit Kashi every day to perform rituals and offer prayers using Ganga water," and added, "This act has hurt religious sentiments."

Videos of Iftar party on Ganga and police investigation

Additional commissioner of police Vijay Pratap Singh said investigators acted after the clip of the Iftar party circulated widely. Singh stated, "A video went viral on Monday, purportedly showing a group of people holding an Iftar party on a boat on the Ganga and consuming biryani during the gathering," while confirming that the 14 men were later detained.

The viral footage clearly shows a group on boats on the Ganga during iftar, eating biryani and other food. However, the video does not show them throwing bones or leftovers into the water. Police in Varanasi have said that these particular allegations from the Iftar party complaint are still being examined.

Police officials have also taken note of another video showing an Iftar party on a boat on the Ganga. This second clip appears to feature a different group of men and is not linked to the 14 arrested. Authorities are treating it as a separate instance and have not tied it to the current case.

Amid the dispute about the Iftar party on the Ganga, the Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee, which manages the Gyanvapi Mosque, expressed disapproval. Joint secretary SM Yaseen criticised the conduct, saying the practice of breaking the fast on a boat does not align with religious guidance and should not be treated like an outing.

Yaseen said, "It came to light that certain ignorant individuals were hosting a roza iftar on a boat. Iftar is a purely religious observance; it is neither a social outing nor a picnic. It is mandatory to offer the Maghrib prayers immediately after Iftar. Therefore, hosting roza iftar on board a boat is against the religion. There is no place for such an act."

The Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee, which oversees the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi, has therefore distanced itself from the Iftar party on the Ganga. Police continue to investigate the complaint, the videos and the circumstances of the gathering, while the 14 arrested men face BNS charges related to religious sentiments and public conduct on the river.