By IANS
Lucknow: A court in Uttar Pradesh Wednesday turned down the anticipatory bail plea of Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) candidate in Pilibhit Varun Gandhi, in the dock for his alleged communally charged campaign speeches.
The verdict was given by an Allahabad High Court bench comprising Justices Imtiyaz Murtaza and S.C. Nigam.
“The court observed that there is no need to stay Varun’s arrest as the Delhi High Court has already granted him anticipatory bail,” Varun Gandhi’s counsel Gopal
Chaturvedi told reporters after the hearing.
“We will be moving the Supreme Court, since Varun has no criminal records the police does not has the right to arrest him,” Chaturvedi added.
The court also observed that prima facie there was a criminal case lodged against Varun Gandhi.
Varun Gandhi has been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the People’s Representative Act for “promoting enmity” and acts “prejudicial to maintenance of harmony” by police in Pilibhit.
The non-bailable case against Varun Gandhi, who said the CDs of his speeches were doctored, was lodged in Pilibhit’s Barkheda police station following a directive from the Election Commission to Uttar Pradesh’s chief electoral officer.