5 Held for Chicken and Liquor Party on BJP Councilor's Boat in Ganga, Viral Video Sparks Police Action

VARANASI POLICE have arrested 5 accused after the circulation of a viral video of cooking meat and enjoying an alcohol party. The video shows people eating a chicken biryani on a boat in the middle of the Ganges at Varanasi's Dashashwamedh Ghat. Earlier in March 2026, the BJP mayor within the Varanasi Municipal Corporation passed the proposal of banning the sale of meat and fish. 

The video of a boat in which people were cooking meat and alcohol have links to a BJP councilor. After the video went viral, police arrested all the five accused shown in the video and also seized the boat for further investigation.

Earlier in March, during the month of Ramdan, a 'biryani party' was hosted by Muslim youths on a boat amidst the waves of the Ganges near Varanasi's Panchganga Ghat. The video of the Iftar party went viral on social media platforms. On March 17, 2026, the police officials said that fourteen people were arrested on charges of defiling a place of worship and hurting religious feelings. 

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Viral Video Sparks Controversy Again

On June 22, 2026, evening, a video of people cooking meat and enjoying alcohol in a boat in the middle of the Ganges at Varanasi's Dashashwamedh Ghat went viral and the internet is divided with several opinions.  The viral video was approximately 1 minute and 15 seconds long. The boat is linked to Satyanarayan Sahni—alias Tanna, a BJP-nominated councilor from the Agastyakunda area. He is currently serving as a Vice President of the Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee Mandal within the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The police registered a case against all the members involved in the liquor party at Varanasi's Dashashwamedh Ghat and also seized the boat. The accused arrested by police includes Ajay Sahani, Arun Kumar Sahani, Rahul Sahani, Anurag Nishad, and Deepak Kumar. All the arrested accused are aged between 25 and 32 years, as reported by police.

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ACP Dashashwamedh Atul Anjan Tripathi’s Statement

While addressing the controversy, ACP Dashashwamedh Atul Anjan Tripathi said that a case has been already registered under relevant sections, all five accused seen in the video have been arrested and are in police custody. The viral video appears to be old and the boat has been linked to Satyanarayan Sahni or his family member, although he was not there in the boat, ACP Dashashwamedh Atul Anjan Tripathi further added.

Also, he appealed to individuals that do not engage in any activities or acts that can hurt sentiments of the public, otherwise strict legal actions would be taken against them.

(Edited By Harsh Pandey)

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