Varun Gandhi got a temporary reprieve

Varun Gandhi got a temporary reprieve on Friday when the Delhi high court granted him anticipatory bail in a criminal case filed against him for making anti-Muslim speeches during electioneering in Pilibhit.

The court directed UP Police, which has registered an FIR against the likely BJP Lok Sabha candidate on the election commission’s orders, not to arrest him till March 27 when it will decide whether it has the jurisdiction to entertain the young Gandhi’s plea for bail and scrap the FIR against him.

The court directed the grandson of former PM the late Indira Gandhi and the only son of animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi to furnish a personal bond of Rs50,000.

Police have charged Varun with promoting enmity between communities (section 153-A IPC), defying prohibitory orders (section 188) and indulging in electoral corruption (section 125 of the Representation of People Act), provisions which carry a maximum sentence of three years in jail and fine.

Varun claims he is a victim of political conspiracy.

HC rejected Delhi Police’s argument that it couldn’t entertain
Varun’s petition as the matter relates to UP.