Varun's parole extended till May 14

BJP Lok Sabha candidate from Pilibhit, Varun Gandhi got further relief on Friday after the Supreme Court, hearing his lawsuit against National Security Act (NSA) slapped on him by the UP government, extended the parole till May 14.

A three-member Bench comprising Justices P Sathasivam and J M Panchal and headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan extended the parole after hearing Varun’s plea challenging the imposition of NSA on him by the Mayawati government for his alleged provocative speech against Muslims during a public meeting in his constituency on March 8.

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A two-week parole that ended today (May 01) was granted to Varun Gandhi after he gave an undertaking to the apex court promising he would not make inflammatory speeches.

The apex court had granted Varun parole on April 16 despite strong opposition by the state government claiming that the BJP’s so-called new poster boy was a national threat and his release could create law and order problem in the state.

And today too, the court extended Varun Gandhi’s release on parole despite Harish Salve, the advocate appearing for the state government, alleged that the BJP leader was in Uttar Pradesh but did not inform the authorities in Pilibhit about his whereabouts on two occasions April 16 to 20 and April 23 to 25. But the court did not move.

Varun’s advocate Mukul Rohatgi contradicted the allegation by saying the Mayawati government has sole agenda to keep his client behind bar.

The UP government had slapped NSA on Varun Gandhi on March 29 after the Pilibhit administration recommended to the government following the alleged verification of the hate and inflammatory speech delivered by the BJP’s political novice who is making his debut in politics as a Lok Sabha candidate from Pilibhit constituency.

Elections in Pilibhit will be held on May 07.