Speech case: Varun Gandhi chargesheeted

Uttar Pradesh Police on Wednesday filed a chargesheet against Bharatiya Janata Party leader Varun Gandhi in a Pilibhit court for his alleged hate speeches during election campaign.

The move came after the Uttar Pradesh government on July 3 gave the green signal for filing of the chargesheet.

The Pilibhit administration, after receiving the report from Forensic Science Laboratory in Chandigarh on the CDs of Varun's alleged inflammatory speeches that Varun's voice was not tampered with, had sought permission from the government to file the chargesheet against the BJP MP, sources said.

Cases were registered against Varun on March 17 at Barkheda police station in Pilibhit on the direction of the Election Commission for allegedly delivering inflammatory speeches there on March 8.

Another FIR was registered against Varun on March 19 for allegedly delivering another hate speech at Desh Nagar locality of Pilibhit town on March 7.

The cases were lodged under the provisions of Indian Penal Code, including section 153 (inciting communal feelings), Representation of People's Act and violation of the model code of conduct.

The 29-year-old BJP leader is out now on bail in cases relating to making provocative speeches during campaigning for recent Lok Sabha elections.

Pilibhit police had late last month sought permission from Uttar Pradesh government to file a chargesheet against Varun. "The chargesheet was ready to be produced before the court. A letter has now been sent to the state government seeking permission to file the chargesheet," district Superintendent of Police Prakash D had said.

The Uttar Pradesh Police arrested Varun on March 29 and though he was granted bail in two cases relating to alleged hate speeches, he was charged under the National Security Act (NSA) and spent three weeks in detention till he was granted conditional bail on April 16 by the Supreme Court.

On May 8, an advisory Board in Uttar Pradesh held as invalid Varun's detention under NSA. On May 14, the Supreme Court had directed the Mayawati government to immediately drop charges under NSA against Varun.