Delhi HC grants anticipatory bail to Varun Gandhi

The Delhi High Court today granted anticipatory bail to BJP Lok Sabha candidate Varun Gandhi restraining the police from arresting him till the Allahabad High Court decides on his petition in connection with his alleged communal speeches.  

Justice Reva Khetrapal granted Varun's plea, while rejecting the submission of Delhi Police that the court had no jurisdiction to entertain the petition as the FIR against him was lodged in Uttar Pradesh.  

Varun, in his petition before the Allahabad High Court, sought quashing of the FIR registered against him in Philibit for his alleged inflammatory and communal speeches.

The Court granted the bail and asked the politician to pay a personal surety of Rs 50,000.

The Court issued notices to Delhi and Uttar Pradesh governments on Varun's plea and listed the matter for further hearing on the question of jurisdiction on March 27.

Apprehending arrest for allegedly making communal speeches during his election campaign in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP candidate had yesterday moved the Delhi High Court for anticipatory bail alleging he has been falsely implicated.

Varun approached the court as there is no provision of anticipatory bail in Uttar Pradesh where he has been booked 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 29-year-old politician, making his electoral debut, had pleaded that the police be restrained from taking any action against him on the basis of the FIR lodged in Uttar Pradesh.

The politician contended in his petition he is being falsely implicated as he is likely candidate from Pilibihit constituency and the FIR is an attempt to derail his campaign for the upcoming elections.