New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Police have arrested a man after a video showing him consuming alcohol on a boat in the Ganga river in Varanasi surfaced online. Officials identified the accused as Arjun Rajbhar, who works as a boat decorator.
According to police, the video showed two men consuming intoxicants while riding a boat. Gaurav Kumar, Assistant Commissioner of Police, said, “A complaint was received at the Bhelupur police station and a case was registered. One of the accused has been identified and arrested.” He added that further investigation is underway.
Political reaction
Reacting to the arrest, Akhilesh Yadav criticised the ruling BJP government. Speaking to reporters in Lucknow, he said, “Is this something new? People are consuming beer everywhere. Since the Bharatiya Janata Party government came to power, people are drinking more because they are under stress and facing difficulties.”
Earlier iftar controversy on Ganga
The arrest comes weeks after another incident in Varanasi during Ramadan. At least 14 people were detained after a video allegedly showed them eating chicken biryani during an iftar gathering on a boat in the Ganga. Police registered a case after a complaint by Rajat Jaiswal, BJP Yuva Morcha city unit chief.
Jaiswal said, “The Ganga holds deep and unshakeable faith for the followers of Sanatan Dharma. Thousands of devotees from across the country and the world visit Kashi every day to perform rituals and offer prayers using Ganga water. In such a situation, eating biryani on a boat in the middle of the river and throwing its leftovers into the water is completely inappropriate. This act appears to have been done with the intention of hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus.”
Legal action and charges
Vijay Pratap Singh, Additional Commissioner of Police, said a viral video showed people hosting the iftar gathering on the river. An FIR was filed under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including provisions related to hurting religious sentiments, promoting enmity, public nuisance, and pollution. Charges were also filed under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.