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A Varanasi court on Friday ordered 14 young men to remain in custody for two weeks after police accused them of holding an iftar gathering on a boat and dumping leftover food and bones into the Ganga. The case, which has already drawn local political attention, raises both environmental and communal concerns at a site many Hindus regard as sacred.
The accused were produced before ACJM-9 Amit Yadav late on Thursday; judges and lawyers remained in court past normal hours because the investigating officer sought a judicial remand from March 19 to April 1. With the remand granted, the 14 were taken to jail.
The defence lawyer argued there was no evidence to justify detention. Prosecutors countered that statements taken from boat operators describe the group allegedly forcing their way on board and threatening the crew. The prosecution has reportedly added a more serious charge that could attract up to 10 years in prison.
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Charges, arguments and next steps
After the remand was approved, the defence filed a bail petition, which the complainant’s counsel opposed. The complainant’s legal team told the court the defendants acted deliberately to disturb religious harmony while sailing near a temple and the area known as Panchganga Ghat, where five rivers are traditionally believed to meet.
- Number of accused: 14, presented in court on Thursday night
- Remand: 14-day judicial remand ordered, until April 1
- Next hearing: March 23 — the court has asked police to provide the accused’s criminal records
- Alleged offences: A mix of sections related to outraging religious sentiments, promoting enmity, public nuisance, disobedience to public servants, and a water pollution provision
- Case origin: Written complaint filed by Rajat Jaiswal, city chief of the BJP Yuva Morcha
ACP (Kotwali) Vijay Pratap Singh confirmed the station recorded a complaint and named several statutory provisions, including a charge under Section 24 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. The criminal bench accepted the prosecution’s request to obtain records from the local police station before the next hearing.
The complainant alleges video footage showed the group consuming non-vegetarian food during the boat event close to a riverside temple; the clip also purportedly captures the disposal of food waste and bones into the river. Defence lawyers maintain there is no proof their clients committed the acts as claimed.
Why the case matters now
Two issues make this case especially sensitive: the ecological impact of dumping waste into a major river, and the potential for accusations to inflame communal tensions in a city that is a religious focal point for many. Authorities will face pressure to resolve forensic and witness questions quickly to prevent escalation.
For readers, the immediate implications are civic and legal: potential criminal penalties for those accused of polluting a protected waterway, and the possibility of broader public-order consequences if allegations of intentionally disturbing religious harmony are sustained.
The court’s decision to summon criminal histories and the scheduling of a follow-up hearing on March 23 mean developments are expected next week. Observers say how investigators document evidence — from the video to the boatmen’s statements — will be critical to whether this case proceeds to trial.
