Varun seeks anticipatory bail
New Delhi: Varun Gandhi, BJP candidate for the Pilibhit Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh, on Thursday moved the Delhi High Court seeking anticipatory bail in the criminal case filed against him for his alleged inflammatory communal speech in the constituency. The case was filed on the direction of the Election Commission.
Counsel for Mr. Gandhi mentioned the petition before a Bench headed by Chief Justice A. P. Shah for early listing. The matter is posted for Friday before Justice Reva Khetrapal.
The petitioner said he apprehended arrest by the Uttar Pradesh police. As there was no provision to seek anticipatory bail in that State, the petition was filed in the Delhi High Court. There was a conspiracy to mar his chances of winning the Lok Sabha elections by attributing the speech to him and that the tapes were doctored.
The petitioner said, “There is no likelihood of the applicant absconding or fleeing from justice. If bail is not allowed, he will suffer irreparable consequences and great prejudice would cause to him.” He was ready to cooperate in the investigation.
An FIR was lodged against Mr. Gandhi on March 17 at the Barkheda Police Station 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 the Indian Penal Code and Section 125 of the Representation of the People Act. It accused Mr. Gandhi of delivering an inciting speech on March 8, causing insecurity in the minds of a community.
Mr. Gandhi also filed a petition in the Allahabad High Court seeking a direction to quash the FIR which, he claimed, was a result of a political conspiracy to spoil his political career and tarnish his secular image.
He alleged that the video footage of a public meeting, on the basis of which the Election Commission took the action, was tampered with and did not contain his voice. No date was fixed for hearing of the case.
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