EC may turn the heat on Mulayam

In a blow to BJP leader Varun Gandhi, the Allahabad high court on Wednesday rejected his plea to quash a police complaint against his alleged anti-Muslim speeches in Pilibhit.

In his petition, Gandhi had challenged the police complaint filed on March 17 at Barkheda police station 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 IPC and Section 125 of the Representation of the People Act. The charges entail a maximum punishment of three years in prison or fine or both.

Asked if Varun could be taken into custody, his counsel Gopal Chaturvedi said outside the court that "arrest is a matter of satisfaction of the investigating officer”.