Muzaffarnagar district police charge sheeted BJP president Amit Shah on Wednesday for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct by delivering an "objectionable" speech during the Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh earlier this year.
Shah faces serious charges under various sections of the IPC which could get him jailed for three years. Those who know the law say that the accused has to go to jail under these sections before he can apply for bail in a court. If he doesn't surrender, the court would issue a non-bailable warrant, a senior lawyer told this correspondent.
Deputy SP of New Mandi Circle, Muzzaffarnagar, Yogender Singh told reporters that the charge sheet had been filed under various sections of the IPC, including 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, etc.), 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class) and 505 (false statement, rumour, etc. circulated with intent to cause mutiny or offence against public peace), and Section 123-3 of Representation of People Act (making an appeal to vote on the grounds of religion amounting to corrupt practice).
UP BJP president LK Bajpayee has described the move as part of the ruling Samajwadi Party's "petty politics" to reap electoral gains in the by-elections to 11 Assembly seats to be held on Saturday. Seven of these seats are in west UP. Interestingly, all 11 seats have been vacated by BJP MLAs who are now MPs.
The charge sheet has been filed against 49-year-old Shah for allegedly seeking votes on the grounds of religion, race, caste and community. He had landed in a major controversy for allegedly saying that the 2014 Lok Sabha polls were an opportunity to seek "revenge for the insult" inflicted during the riots in Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh last year.
Police had registered a case against him for allegedly violating the model code following a direction from the Election Commission, which had also banned him from campaigning in the state on April 4, 2014.
Taking note of the "revenge" remark by Shah, the EC had issued a notice to him for prima facie violation of the model code. Shah had denied having violated the model code and asked EC to reconsider its decision, claiming that the remarks were not reported in the right perspective. The EC had later lifted the ban, letting Shah off the hook with a warning.
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