Indian court denies bail to Muslims over Iftar on Ganges
Court rejects bail for 14 Muslim men accused of hurting religious sentiments, raising concerns over selective policing and legal harassment
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — A court in northern India has denied bail to 14 Muslim men accused of organizing an Iftar gathering on a boat in the Ganges river, in a case that has raised concerns about selective law enforcement and the criminalization of Muslim religious practices.
The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate in Varanasi rejected bail on Monday, stating that the charges against the men were serious and non-bailable. The accused have remained in judicial custody since March 19 following the registration of multiple criminal cases against them.
The case emerged after a video circulated on social media showing the men breaking their Ramadan fast on a boat in the Ganges, a river considered sacred by many Hindus.
A complaint was later filed by a youth leader affiliated with India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, alleging that the men consumed chicken biryani and discarded food remains into the river, thereby hurting religious sentiments.
Police subsequently filed charges under several provisions of India’s criminal code, including promoting religious enmity, public nuisance, polluting water, and outraging religious feelings. Authorities also invoked provisions related to disobedience of public orders and environmental violations.
Additional charges were later added after boat operators alleged that the group had taken control of the vessel without permission. Investigators also invoked provisions related to extortion and the transmission of allegedly offensive content under India’s information technology laws.
During the bail hearing, defense lawyers argued that the accused had no prior criminal record and were falsely implicated after the video went viral. They also told the court that the footage did not show meat consumption and that the boat operators themselves were not visible in the video.
Prosecutors opposed bail, arguing that the charges carried potential prison terms of up to 10 years and citing a second complaint alleging threats linked to the case. The court ultimately ruled that the seriousness of the accusations warranted continued detention.
The case has drawn attention because gatherings and recreational activities — including the consumption of alcohol — are frequently reported along sections of the Ganges without similar legal action. Observers note that such incidents rarely trigger criminal cases or arrests, raising questions about selective enforcement when Muslim religious gatherings are involved.
The arrests come amid a broader pattern in which Muslim individuals have faced legal action following viral videos or complaints alleging harm to religious sentiments, a provision that rights advocates say has increasingly been used in communal disputes.
The bail rejection means the 14 men will remain in custody while investigations continue, as debate grows over the use of criminal law in cases involving religious practices and public spaces.
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