Orry slapped with FIR: Katra hotel association president urges alcohol ban

Social media influencer Orhan Awatramani, popularly known as Orry, along with seven others, was booked for allegedly consuming alcohol at a hotel in Katra, the base camp for the Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district, police confirmed on Monday.

The incident sparked widespread outrage, with political parties demanding strict action against the accused. In an official statement, the Jammu and Kashmir Police stated that the eight individuals were booked for "violating the law of the land" and claimed that their actions "hurt the sentiments of the people."

See more: Orry sparks outrage for alleged alcohol consumption near Vaishno Devi, netizens says, “Ban him from KATRA"

Now, according to the latest reports on ANI, Rakesh Wazir, President of the Hotel and Restaurant Association in Katra, has shared the importance of maintaining the sanctity of Mata Vaishno Devi by strictly avoiding alcohol consumption in the region.

While stating that Katra upholds strict guidelines in respect of the pilgrimage site, he also added that besides alcohol, and even food ingredients like garlic and onion are traditionally avoided in food preparation. "Even if it was consumed inside a hotel room, it goes against our values. As long as one is in Katra, such rules should be respected," he told ANI.

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The controversy erupted after an FIR was lodged by Katra police on March 15, naming Awatramani and his companions—Darshan Singh, Parth Raina, Ritick Singh, Rashi Dutta, Rakshita Bhogal, Shagun Kohli, and Anastasila Arzamaskina. According to news reports, the group was found consuming alcohol at a hotel despite clear instructions that alcohol and non-vegetarian food are strictly prohibited in the region.

A special team was formed under the supervision of senior officers, including SP Katra, DySP Katra, and SHO Katra, to ensure those responsible faced consequences.