Archive · 26 Jul 2026
Justice Questions Detention Over Ganga Iftar Gathering
In March 2026, 14 Muslim youths were arrested and detained for over two months for organizing an iftar gathering on a boat in the Ganga river in Varanasi.
They were charged with hurting religious sentiments, defiling a place of worship, public nuisance, polluting the river, and forcibly seizing the boat.
Justice Ujjal Bhuyan questioned the legality of their arrest and prolonged detention, stating that consuming chicken biryani is not an offence.
He emphasized the importance of protecting individual liberty and ensuring that arrests do not become punitive.
The youths were eventually granted bail by the Allahabad High Court.
14 Muslim youths were arrested for organizing an iftar gathering on the Ganga in Varanasi.
They were detained for over two months on charges of hurting religious sentiments and polluting the river.
Justice Ujjal Bhuyan questioned the legality of their arrest and prolonged detention.
The youths were granted bail by the Allahabad High Court.
Justice Bhuyan emphasized the need to protect individual liberty and ensure fair treatment in the criminal justice system.
- Who
- 14 Muslim youths and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan
- What
- Arrest and detention of youths for organizing an iftar gathering on the Ganga
- When
- March 2026
- Where
- Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Why
- Allegations of hurting religious sentiments, defiling a place of worship, public nuisance, polluting the river, and forcible seizure of the boat
Critics of the Arrest
Proponents of the Arrest
Legality of the Arrest
Critics of the Arrest
Consuming chicken biryani is not an offence and does not justify arrest or prolonged detention.
Proponents of the Arrest
The arrest was necessary to investigate allegations of hurting religious sentiments and polluting the river.
Bail Process
Critics of the Arrest
The delay in granting bail raises concerns about the protection of individual liberty and the fairness of the criminal justice system.
Proponents of the Arrest
The bail process was conducted according to legal procedures, and the delay was due to the complexity of the case.
- Date of Incident
- March 2026
- Location
- Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Number of Arrested Youths
- 14
- Duration of Detention
- Over two months
- Court Granting Bail
- Allahabad High Court
- Charges Filed
- Hurting religious sentiments, defiling a place of worship, public nuisance, polluting the river, forcible seizure of the boat
