The Allahabad High Court on Monday fixed May 5 as the date for hearing the bail application of several Muslim youths who are accused of organizing an iftar party on a boat in the Ganga river in Varanasi and disposing of biryani waste into the river.
The order was passed by Justice Jitendra Kumar Sinha while considering the bail application of Danish Shaifi, one of the accused in the case.
Background of the Case
An FIR was lodged on March 16 based on a complaint by Rajat Jaiswal, the president of the BJP Yuva Morcha, at the Kotwali police station in Varanasi. According to the complaint, the incident hurt the religious sentiments of the Hindu community.
The complaint alleged that on March 15, the accused broke their Ramzan fast on a boat on the Ganga, consumed meat, and threw the waste into the river, which is considered sacred by many.
Arrests and Charges
Following the FIR, 14 youths were arrested. The police invoked a series of legal provisions against them, including sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) related to defiling a place of worship, outraging religious feelings, and later, extortion.
Earlier, a sessions court in Varanasi had denied bail to the accused. The high court is now set to hear the bail plea on May 5.
The case has drawn significant attention, with debates around religious sentiments and the right to practice one's faith. The court's decision on the bail application will be closely watched.
