Asked to lead the BJP attack against the failure of UPA government, MP from Philibhit, Varun Gandhi got a major relief when he was acquitted in a case related to violence after his arrest over hate speech during the lok Sabha poll campaign in March, 2009.
Earlier, the BJP general Secretary was acquitted in two cases of hate speech registered during lok Sabha poll on February 27 and March 5 respectively. Varun was acquitted for want of evidence.
On Friday, District Judge of Pilibhit, Vinod Mishra exonerated Gandhi after no evidence was found against him though the court will continue the case against nine other BJP workers in the same case. Around 40 people appeared for recording their statements as witness and all claimed that Varun was not involved in violence. The main petitioner Ramesh died during the trial.
The case was registered in Kotwali police station under sections 147,148,307,427,336,332,120(B)
In 2009, the first FIR against Varun was lodged on March 17, 2009 at Barkhera police station and the second one a day later in Dal Chand for allegedly making speeches with communal overtones. He was charged under IPC and Representation of People Act for fomenting enmity among people and supporting acts prejudicial to communal harmony by making inflammatory speeches. The third FIR was lodged on charges of instigating violence on March 28, 2009, when his supporters attacked police and indulged in violence after the court remanded him in judicial custody. However, now the acquittal in all three cases has come as a big relief for the BJP leader.
The court acquitted the Pilibhit MP on the basis of eyewitness accounts and a report of Forensic Science laboratory, Chandigarh, in the hate speech cases which concluded that video CD of the alleged 'hate speech' had been 'doctored'.
Also, most eyewitnesses produced by police either turned hostile or testified in Varun's favour. After acquittal, Varun refused to speak to the media and just said 'no comment '.