By IANS,
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Varun Gandhi Thursday sought anticipatory bail from the Delhi High Court in a criminal case filed against him on direction of the Election Commission over his alleged anti-Muslim speeches.
Earlier in the day, Varun Gandhi also moved Allahabad High Court seeking quashing of the first information report (FIR) which, he claimed, was a result of a political conspiracy.
Varun Gandhi’s counsel Sandeep Kapur filed the anticipatory bail plea in the Delhi High Court before a division bench headed by Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah.
Kapur said: “There was an apprehension of his arrest since the provision for anticipatory bail was not available in Uttar Pradesh.”
His plea for anticipatory bail is scheduled to be heard Friday.
The FIR against Varun Gandhi was filed at 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.
The grandson of late prime minister Indira Gandhi who is planning to make his electoral debut in the upcoming general elections as a BJP candidate from Pilibhit alleged in his petition that the FIR, which was lodged nine days after he made the alleged speeches, was a part of a political conspiracy to spoil his political career and tarnish his secular image.
In the FIR, Varun Gandhi has been accused of having delivered an inciting speech on March 8 which has caused insecurity in the minds of one particular community.
The FIR also states that the meeting was held without permission and in violation of Section 144 imposed by the local administration.
Holding that his alleged anti-Muslim speeches amount to violation of the model code of conduct, the Election Commission Wednesday slapped notices on Varun Gandhi and BJP seeking their response by Friday and ordered video tracking of his entire campaign.