Varun Gandhi fixed hate speech case: Report
16 May 2013 4:20 PM IST
A sting operation by Tehelka-Headlines Today claims to have blown the cover off BJP general secretary Varun Gandhi’s alleged operation that led to his acquittal in the 2009 Pilibhit hate speech case.
Witnesses, police and judicial officers were made to derail the case against him, according to the report aired by Headlines Today on Wednesday evening.
Gandhi, the report alleges on the basis of taped statements of local politicians, had helped Samajwadi Party leader Riyaz Ahmed win a seat in the 2012 assembly election by arranging for the defeat of his BJP rival.
Ahmed and police officers helped ‘fix’ all of the 88 witnesses, either by bribery or by coercion, according to the report which cited witnesses.
Following the report’s telecast, Varun Gandhi issued a statement accusing Tehelka of having an anti-BJP bias, adding that the sting was a diversionary tactic to draw attention away from real issues.
‘It is clear certain vested interests aren’t happy with the (court’s) verdict,’ Gandhi’s statement said.
He added that the story was timed with his elevation as BJP general secretary in mind. The investigation claimed that a public prosecutor -- MP Verma —and the court itself were suspiciously negligent in following due process.
Amongst those making statements on camera was Parmeshwari Dayal Gangwar – district vice-president of BJP in Pilibhit and a close political aide of Gandhi.
He is seen giving an account of the vitriolic speeches Gandhi gave.
Witnesses, police and judicial officers were made to derail the case against him, according to the report aired by Headlines Today on Wednesday evening.
Gandhi, the report alleges on the basis of taped statements of local politicians, had helped Samajwadi Party leader Riyaz Ahmed win a seat in the 2012 assembly election by arranging for the defeat of his BJP rival.
Ahmed and police officers helped ‘fix’ all of the 88 witnesses, either by bribery or by coercion, according to the report which cited witnesses.
Following the report’s telecast, Varun Gandhi issued a statement accusing Tehelka of having an anti-BJP bias, adding that the sting was a diversionary tactic to draw attention away from real issues.
‘It is clear certain vested interests aren’t happy with the (court’s) verdict,’ Gandhi’s statement said.
He added that the story was timed with his elevation as BJP general secretary in mind. The investigation claimed that a public prosecutor -- MP Verma —and the court itself were suspiciously negligent in following due process.
Amongst those making statements on camera was Parmeshwari Dayal Gangwar – district vice-president of BJP in Pilibhit and a close political aide of Gandhi.
He is seen giving an account of the vitriolic speeches Gandhi gave.
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