Social media influencer Orhan Awatramani, aka “Orry,” was among eight people booked for consuming liquor at a hotel in Katra, the base camp for the pilgrimage to the holy Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district, police said on Monday.
The FIR was registered against the eight for “violating the law of the land,” and a team was set up to nab them for “hurting the sentiments of people,” the Jammu and Kashmir police said in a statement.
The Katra police station received a complaint on March 15 that some guests staying at a hotel were found having liquor on the premises in violation of rules. An FIR was then registered against eight people, including Orry.
“Orhan Awatramani, Darshan Singh, Parth Raina, Ritick Singh, Rashi Dutta, Rakshita Bhogal, Shagun Kohli, and Anastasila Arzamaskina consumed liquor on the hotel premises despite being told that alcohol and non-vegetarian food were not allowed inside the property due to its proximity to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine,” a police officer said, citing the complaint.
“Sensing the gravity of the matter, instructions were issued by Senior Superintendent of Police, Reasi, Paramvir Singh, to nab the miscreants and set an example of zero tolerance of any such act at a religious place, which can hurt the sentiments of people,” he said.
The excise act, 1958 Section 4[50-A clearly states that any person found drinking or attempting to drink liquor in any public place or place of worship or in any place that is used to transact any business other than a premises covered by a license shall be punished with imprisonment, which may extend to six months or with a fine, which may extend to 6 [three thousand rupees but not be less than one thousand rupees] or with both.
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