The Bombay High Court on Tuesday restrained the Maharashtra government from releasing water from Gangapur dam for the 'shahi snaan' (holy dip) during the ongoing Kumbh Mela at Nashik and adjoining Trimbakeshwar in the state on September 25.

The direction came during the hearing of a petition filed by H M Desarda, a professor from Pune, against the state's decision to release one TMC (thousand million cubic) water for every 'shahi snaan' during the Kumbh Mela even though many parts of Maharashtra are facing a drought.