Court accepts UP government's plea against Varun Gandhi

New Delhi: Nearly three months after a court acquitted Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) General Secretary Varun Gandhi of making provocative speeches during the 2009 Lok Sabha election campaign, the Pilibhit District court on Wednesday accepted UP government's appeal against the acquittal of the BJP leader. As many as 14 government officials including the then district magistrate of Pilibhit turned hostile during the trial leading to Varun's acquittal.

After IBN7 exposed the officials in the case. The state government was forced to move court. The next hearing will take place on July 15.

Varun Gandhi had allegedly made provocative speeches against Muslims during the 2009 election campaign.

The 2009 speech landed Varun Gandhi in jail during the election campaign, with the then Uttar Pradesh chief minister, Mayawati, slapping non-bailable charges like promoting religious enmity between communities on the young BJP leader. Four years later, the Pilibhit CJM court acquitted Varun of all charges.

The investigating officer failed to produce the alleged inflammatory CD in court in all these four years and Varun's voice sample was never taken. And if this wasn't enough, all 14 government officials who were witnesses, including the district magistrate, the ADM and 13 policemen, turned hostile. Embarrassed by IBN7's reports on prosecution's methods during the trial, the UP government hastily stated that it would appeal in a higher court.

Being the Pilibhit District Magistrate in 2009, Mahendra Agarwal was the official complainant in this case and hence a witness, along with his deputy ADM Zameer Alam. Strangely, Agarwal told the court that he neither saw Varun Gandhi's provocative speech nor had they received any complaint. Thirteen policemen followed suit and changed their statements in the court leading to Varun's acquittal.

The ruling Samajwadi Party, which banks heavily on Muslim support, is now washing off its hands in the whole matter. With the time bar for appeal approaching soon, the UP government is on test.