Sonpathri Ashram Iftar row: Eight men granted bail abandon homes citing police fear

LUCKNOW: The group of youths arrested for organising an Iftar gathering near the Sonpathri Mai Sidhinath Ashram in Sravasti, Uttar Pradesh, has reportedly fled their homes. Despite being granted bail last week, family members confirm that the men have not returned to their villages, fearing further police action or the filing of additional charges. The incident took place on March 17, 2026, within the Sohelwa Wildlife Sanctuary near the India-Nepal border.

The arrests were triggered by a viral video of the gathering, which led to two distinct legal complaints. The head priest of the ashram filed a report alleging that the group consumed non-vegetarian food and discarded leftovers into a water stream used by devotees for drinking and rituals, thereby hurting religious sentiments. Additionally, the Forest Department booked the group for lighting an illegal fire in a protected wildlife zone. Out of the ten individuals detained, eight secured bail but chose to go into hiding rather than return home.

This situation in Sravasti stands in stark contrast to a recent crackdown in Varanasi, where 14 youths were arrested on March 15 for eating chicken biryani on a boat in the middle of the Ganges. In that instance, the judiciary has taken a stricter stance; on April 1, 2026, a Sessions Court denied bail to all 14 individuals. The court ruled that filming the act and sharing it on social media was a prima facie attempt to disrupt social harmony. While the Sravasti youths are currently free on bail, their flight from their homes underscores a growing climate of fear regarding selective legal action and the potential for escalating consequences.