Allahabad/New Delhi: Embattled BJP leader Varun Gandhi, against whom a criminal case was filed over his alleged anti-Muslim speeches, on Thursday knocked the doors of two separate high courts seeking to quash charges against him and prevent his possible arrest even as he appeared headed for more trouble for allegedly distributing money in Pilibhit.
Adding to the heat on Varun who had dismissed the CD of his alleged inflammatory speech, the Election Commission (EC) said it has seen the video footage and it was up to him to prove that the tape was tampered with.
Varun moved the Allahabad High Court with a petition seeking to quash the FIR filed on March 17 at Barkheda Police Station in Piliphit under Sections 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion) and 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant) of Indian Penal Code and Section 125 of the Representation of the People Act.
Varun alleged in his petition that the FIR, which was lodged nine days after he had made the speeches, was "a part of a political conspiracy to spoil" his political career and "tarnish" his "secular image".
He has also alleged the video footage of a public meeting, on the basis of which the EC has taken action against him, "has been tampered with" and did not contain his voice.
Varun also approached the Delhi High Court seeking anticipatory bail with his counsel telling a Bench headed by Chief Justice A P Shah that there was apprehension of his arrest since the provision for anticipatory bail was not available in Uttar Pradesh.
Appearing before Delhi High Court, the counsel of the 29-year-old politician, seeking to make his electoral debut, pleaded that the police be restrained from taking any action against him on the basis of the FIR lodged in Uttar Pradesh.
The counsel submitted Varun is a law abiding citizens and would co-operate in the investigation.
A bench comprising Chief Justice A P Shah and Justice S Muralidharan agreed to list the matter for Friday.
However, Varun could find himself in more trouble as the EC sought a report on his alleged distribution of money on March 4 in Pilibhit where the district administration said an inquiry had found the allegation to be true.
"The Commission today got some inputs regarding alleged distribution of money by the BJP candidate and it has sought a report from the district magistrate in this regard," Chief Electoral Officer Anuj Kumar Bishnoi told reporters in Lucknow.
Pilibhit sub-divisional magistrate M A Akhtar said an inquiry conducted by the district administration had found that Varun distributed money to some people in Bisalpur village on March 4.
He said two separate FIRs were lodged against Varun for allegedly making inflammatory remarks and inciting communal feelings during rallies held on March 2 and March 8 and EC also has "some inputs regarding a similar meeting held on February 22, on which a separate report has been sought from the district magistrate".
Comments
0 comment