US EditionRiver Rituals and Religious Rifts: Biryani Controversy Erupts in Kashi
Police arrested 14 men after a video showed them discarding chicken biryani leftovers into the sacred Ganga river, prompting charges under religious and pollution laws.
- On March 17, 2026, police in Varanasi arrested 14 men for allegedly organising an iftar gathering on a boat on the Ganga river.
- A social media video widely circulated on Monday prompted police verification and a complaint from Rajat Jaiswal, chief of the Bharatiya Janata Party's youth wing in Varanasi, alleging hurt Hindu religious sentiments.
- Footage showed the group consuming chicken biryani and discarding bones into the river, and police records list charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, also invoking the Water Act.
- Authorities said they are taking action under the law while police identified participants from the video and are questioning them, and saffron leaders demanded strict measures including action against the boat operator.
- Officials suggested the event may have been staged for a social media reel and authorities are pursuing further legal action, while a local leader said, 'Ganga is a sacred river&such incidents can not be tolerated&.
18 Articles
18 Articles
Times of India
NewsDrum14 arrested in Varanasi for eating chicken biryani on boat in Ganga sent to judicial custody
In a controversial incident in Varanasi, a group of fourteen people found themselves in judicial custody for allegedly hosting an Iftar festivity on a boat cruising the Ganga river, featuring chicken biryani as the main dish. Their bail requests were turned down by the court, with charges leveled against them for disrespecting a place of worship and provoking religious sentiments.
14 Arrested For Eating Chicken Biryani On Boat In Ganga River In Varanasi
Fourteen people have been arrested on charges of defiling a place of worship and hurting religious feelings after a video purportedly showing them eating chicken biryani during an Iftar party hosted on a boat in the Ganga river
River Rituals and Religious Rifts: Biryani Controversy Erupts in Kashi
River Rituals and Religious Rifts: Biryani Controversy Erupts in Kashi In a controversial turn of events, fourteen people were arrested after a video surfaced showing them eating chicken biryani during an Iftar gathering on a boat in the Ganga River. The incident sparked outrage for allegedly defiling a significant religious site and offending religious sensibilities.Rajat Jaiswal, head of BJP Yuva Morcha's city unit, filed a complaint alleging …
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