UP officials hand over CD to Varun Gandhi

Uttar Pradesh officials visited the residence of Varun Gandhi on Friday and handed over a copy of the CD containing his hate speech, three days after the Election Commission issued a notice to BJP and its candidate from Pilibhit for alleged violation of model code of conduct.

A two-member team headed by AK Mishra, a tehsildar rank officer of the UP Government, handed over the CD at the residence of Varun's mother and former union minister Maneka Gandhi here, where the BJP candidate stays.

The officials were accompanied by a team from Delhi Police, which did not enter the residential premises. The team was at Gandhi's residence for about half-an-hour.

"We have come here in connection with the CD case. We have handed over a copy of the CD," Mishra said.

Varun's office, when contacted, said the officials had come to hand over a CD to the BJP candidate, but refused to give any further details.

29-year-old Varun had moved the Delhi High Court on Thursday seeking anticipatory bail. Sources in the UP police said the onus of challenging the contents of the CD lay on Varun.

The EC had on Tuesday directed the Uttar Pradesh chief electoral officer to file a case under Indian Penal Code and Representation of the People Act against Varun in connection with his speeches in Pilibhit, which had communal overtones.

It also issued notices to the BJP and Varun for alleged violation of model code of conduct.