UP government to challenge Varun Gandhi's acquittal

LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh government will challenge Pilibhit court's decision acquitting BJP leader Varun Gandhi in two hate speech cases during 2009 Lok Sabha elections, a senior official said here today.

The government will also challenge acquittal of the BJP national general secretary in a case of vandalism in higher courts.

"The government will challenge the court's decision acquitting Varun in two hate speech and one vandalism cases in the higher court," said Ashish Gupta, IG Special Task Force.

He said there were two cases of hate speech against Varun lodged during Lok Sabha elections in 2009, whereas another case of vandalism was filed in the same year.

The IG said among hate speech cases one was lodged at Kotwali police station in Pilibhit while another was filed at Bharkhera.

In the cases related to hate speech, Varun was acquitted by the court of chief judicial magistrate Abdul Qayyum on February 27 and March 5 respectively. In case relating to vandalism he was discharged on May 3 by the sessions court.

The announcement came hours after Union minister Beni Prasad Verma accused the UP government of having a tacit understanding with the BJP leader.

Verma alleged that due to the pressure exerted by the UP government witnesses in the hate speech cases did not turn up in the court to depose and Varun got acquitted.