Pilibhit, July 15: Uttar Pradesh Police on Wednesday filed a chargesheet against BJP MP from Pilibhit Varun Gandhi at a Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court here for his alleged hate speeches in March during campaign for Lok Sabha polls.
“The chargesheet was filed this afternoon by investigating officer Mani Ram Rao in a case registered with Barkhera police station under section 153(A) (promoting enemity on religious grounds), 125 of Representation of the People Act and other relevant sections of the IPC on March 17,” official sources said.
29-year-old Varun, who was arrested on March 29 by Uttar Pradesh Police, is currently out on bail.
The state government had on July 3 granted sanction to Pilibhit police to file a chargesheet against Varun.
“We have given the nod to the Pilibhit district administration to start proceedings against Varun under the Section 153 A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) that deals with promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony,” a state home department official told news agencies after the sanction. Reacting to the development, Varun Gandhi said he welcomed the move. “I have full faith in the judiciary. My stand will be vindicated,” he told mediapersons. He also added that the media should now respect the sanctity of the judiciary. According to police, a charge sheet was prepared against Varun Gandhi after forensic experts confirmed that three CDs of the speeches he allegedly delivered in his constituency in March were genuine.
Three criminal cases are registered against the young, first-time MP from Pilibhit for his alleged hate speeches.
The first criminal case, relating to the anti-Muslim speech he allegedly delivered at a public rally in Barkhera village of Pilibhit district March 8, was registered March 17.
The second case was registered over the same incident at the behest of the Election Commission, which took serious cognisance of the speech.
Yet another hate speech Varun Gandhi reportedly made was at Desh Nagar locality of Pilibhit town March 7. A case for this speech was registered March 19.
—Agencies