Supreme Court releases Varun Gandhi for two weeks

New Delhi, Apr.16 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the release of Bharatiya Janata Party leader Varun Gandhi on parole for a period of two weeks after it received an undertaking from him that he would not indulge in communally sensitive and hate speeches.

The apex court, however, said that Gandhi would have to give a new undertaking to the District Magistrate of Etah.

Gandhi was booked under the National Security Act (NSA) for an alleged hate speech delivered in his parliamentary constituency of Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh last month.

The release of Gandhi came even as the Uttar Pradesh Government, which is headed by Chief Minister Mayawati, said that it would go ahead with a hearing of the NSA case against Gandhi. The State Government said that it has instructed an advisory board to take the matter up. The advisory board is scheduled to meet on April 18.

The BJP welcomed the Supreme Court order. Party spokesman Balbir Punj said that imposing the NSA on Gandhi was a blatant misuse of the law and government by the BSP administration in the state.

On Wednesday, a lawyer representing Varun Gandhi revealed that his client has given an undertaking to the Supreme Court that he will not make any more hate speeches, raising prospects of his early release on bail from the Etah District Jail where he has been lodged under the National Security (NSA) Act.

According to the lawyer, an affidavit has been submitted to Etah District Magistrate Gaurav Dayal in this regard. The affidavit will be forwarded to the Supreme Court that had adjourned the hearing of Varun's bail plea till April 16.

Varun had moved the Supreme Court seeking relief to allow him to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Pilibhit, and according to Dayal, has promised not to give provocative speeches that violate the Constitution or lead to any law and order problem.

"In his affidavit Varun had promised that he will not deliver any hate speech and that he will follow the model code of conduct," news reports quoted Varun''s lawyer Prashant Singh Atal, as saying.

The apex court had said on Monday said Varun''s plea for bail could be accepted only if he comes out with a promise that he will not make provocative speeches during his campaign.

Varun''s affidavit also states that his actions were not in violation of Constitution and that he has obeyed the law. (ANI)