ThePrint ThePrintPOD: 14 held in Varanasi for Iftar party with chicken biryani on boat in Ganga, ‘hurting Hindu sentiments’
Mar 18, 2026
A viral video of an iftar on a boat in the Ganga sparks arrests and controversy. Discussion covers police charges including insults to religion and pollution laws. Complainant’s claims about location, chicken biryani, and disrespect to river devotees fuel public outrage. Report tracks the legal and community response to the incident.
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Arrests After Viral Iftar Video On Ganga
- Varanasi police arrested 14 people after a viral video showed an iftar party on a boat in the Ganga.
- ACP Kotwali Vijay Pratap Singh said teams were deployed immediately and arrests were made considering the seriousness of the matter.
Complaint From BJP Yuva Morcha Chief About Biryani
- Complainant Rajat Jaiswal (BJP Yuva Morcha unit chief) said the boat party served chicken biryani and leftovers were allegedly thrown into the river.
- Jaiswal claimed the iftar was outside Alamgir Mosque but actually near Bindu Madhah temple, saying the act hurt devotees who revere the Ganga.
Charges Framed As Communal Harm And Pollution
- Police registered multiple charges including sections 298, 299, and public nuisance under Kotwali police station in Kashi.
- The case frames the incident as an act prejudicial to communal harmony and defiling a sacred place, citing pollution and danger-related statutes.