UP officials hand over 'hate speech' CD to Varun

Uttar Pradesh officials on Friday visited the residence of Varun Gandhi and handed over a copy of the CD containing his alleged hate speech, three days after the Election Commission issued a notice to Bharatiya Janata Party and its candidate from Pilibhit for alleged violation of model code of conduct.

A two-member team headed by A K Mishra, a tehsildar rank officer of the UP government, handed over the CD at the residence of Varun's mother and former Union Minister Maneka Gandhi in New Delhi, where the BJP candidate stays.

The officials were accompanied by a team from Delhi Police, which did not enter the residential premises. The team was at Gandhi's residence for about half-an-hour.

"We have come here in connection with the CD case. We have handed over a copy of the CD," Mishra said.

Varun's office, when contacted, said the officials had come to hand over a CD to the BJP candidate, but refused to give any further details.

29-year-old Varun had on Thursday moved the Delhi high court seeking anticipatory bail. Sources in the UP police said the onus of challenging the contents of the CD lay on Varun.

The EC had on Tuesday directed the Uttar Pradesh chief electoral officer to file a case under Indian Penal Code and Representation of the People Act against Varun in connection with his alleged speeches in Pilibhit, which had communal overtones.

It also issued notices to BJP and Varun for alleged violation of the model code of conduct.