Daijiworld Media Network - Varanasi

Varanasi, Mar 24: A court in Varanasi on Monday rejected the bail plea of 14 youths arrested over allegations of consuming chicken biryani during an iftar gathering on a boat in the Ganga and throwing leftovers into the river.

The accused, all in their twenties, were arrested on March 17 and have since been lodged in the district jail. Charges of extortion were also invoked against them following their arrest.

Defence counsel Rana Yadav said the court, after hearing arguments from both sides, rejected the bail applications. He added that a fresh plea would be moved before the sessions court.

During the hearing, the prosecution referred to a separate complaint filed by Rajat Jaiswal, who is the district president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha. Jaiswal alleged that he had been receiving abusive messages and death threats from unidentified persons on social media.

The second case was registered at Sigra Police Station under charges of criminal intimidation and provoking breach of peace. Police said efforts are underway to trace the sources of the threats, with no arrests made so far.

The incident came to light after a video of the gathering surfaced on social media, allegedly uploaded by the accused themselves. Following a complaint by Jaiswal, a case was registered at Kotwali Police Station, and the youths were identified using the footage.

The case has been filed under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including provisions related to hurting religious sentiments, promoting enmity, public nuisance, and submitting false evidence, along with sections of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act.

Police later added extortion charges based on statements by boat operator Anil Sahani and his relative Ranjan Sahani, who alleged that the youths had forcibly taken the motorboat by issuing threats.