Allahabad High Court Grants Bail to 8 Accused in Varanasi Boat Iftar Party Case

The Allahabad High Court granted bail to eight of 14 Muslim men arrested in the Varanasi boat Iftar party case. They were accused of eating non-vegetarian food on a boat in the Ganga river and allegedly throwing leftovers into the water. The bail was granted by Justice Rajiv Lochan Shukla and Justice Jitendra Kumar Sinha. The accused had earlier been denied bail by lower courts. The case relates to an Iftar gathering on March 15 during Ramadan. Videos from the event went viral, prompting complaints from BJP and Hindu right-wing groups. Police arrested all 14 accused within hours. The FIR alleged the act hurt Hindu religious sentiments. The accused were booked under several legal provisions. Police claimed the group "hijacked" the boat and filmed the event deliberately. Lawyers argued the allegations were exaggerated and politically motivated. The remaining six accused are still in jail, with bail hearings set for May 18. Most accused are young men from Varanasi's Madanpura area.