Code of Conduct case against Varun dismissed

Pilibhit: In a minor relief for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Pilibhit candidate Varun Gandhi, a Pilibhit court on Monday dismissed a case against him for violating the Model Code of Conduct.

The case was dismissed on technical grounds because the case was filed by the station officer and not the district magistrate.

However, Varun cannot still walk out of jail as it will take another three weeks for the Allahabad High Court Advisory Committee to rule on upholding or rejecting the National Security Act (NSA) slapped against him.

The High Court set up a three-member Advisory Committee comprising of one Acting High Court Judge and two retired Judges and the committee will submit it’s report in another three weeks on whether NSA imposed on Varun was correct or not.

Until the Advisory Committee submits its report, Varun can't appeal against the NSA.

Meanwhile, BJP MP and Varun's mother Maneka Gandhi alleges that the Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party conspired to invoke the NSA against Varun.

"Misuse of such powerful laws is unjust to Varun and to the country. The BSP and Congress are desperate for votes. They put pressure on the authorities," alleged Maneka.

The BJP also plans to observe Monday as 'Black Day' in protest against Uttar Pradesh government's action against Varun.

Varun's bail plea on other cases is also up for hearing at the local court in Pilibhit. He has also been booked for attempted murder, rioting, destruction of public property, and preventing public servants from discharging their duty.

He has also been charged with promoting enmity between two communities during his election campaign.

But the BJP has said that Varun will contest Lok Sabha elections and senior BJP leaders have blamed the BSP and Congress for slapping NSA on Varun.

"Invoking NSA is atrocious. NSA should be used against terrorists and not like a nationalist like Varun Gandhi. This move will boomerang against BSP and Congress. NSA should have been invoked on Afzal Guru," said former BJP president Venkaiah Naidu.