Govt nod to prosecute Varun for hate speeches

The state government has sanctioned the prosecution of BJP national secretary Varun Gandhi in the cases registered against him for making incendiary speeches at public meetings in Pilibhit in the run-up to the 2009 Lok Sabha election. Varun was later elected from Pilibhit.

Secretary (Home) Deepak Kumar told mediapersons that Varun has been charged under Sections 153(A),295(A) and 505(2) of the Indian Penal Code,which pertains to promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion,race,place of birth,residence and language,committing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony,and committing deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious belief. He also faces charges under Section 125 of the Representation of the People Act,for which government sanction is not required.

Criminal cases were registered against Varun on the instructions of the Election Commission for making allegedly hate speeches at public meetings at Barkheda and Mohalla Dalchand in Pilibhit on March 7 and 8. Later,he surrendered and was sent to jail. The government also ordered his detention under the National Security Act,which was revoked following intervention by the Supreme Court.

Varun had claimed that the CD of his speeches had been doctored. When sent to the Forensic Science Lab for testing,it reported that the voice on the CD matched Varun’s.