Muzaffarnagar: In a major setback to UP police and probably also to the SP government in the state, a court in Muzaffarnagar refused to take cognisance of the chargesheet against BJP president Amit Shah in connection with the hate speech made by him and during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
The magistrate returned the charge sheet with directions to police that the case should be re-investigated as there were many lacuna in the sections slapped on Shah, they said.
Shah was on Wednesday charged by the police for his alleged hate speech during campaigning here for the Lok Sabha elections.
The charges were filed against Shah under Section 123(3) of Representation of the People Act for allegedly seeking votes on the grounds of religion, race, caste and community and under Section 188 of the IPC relating to disobedience to order promulgated by public servant. Shah had lhad asked voters to seek “revenge for the insult” inflicted during the riots in Muzaffarnagar last year.
The rejection has reportedly left the Akhilesh Yadav government red-faced as the BJP state unit has alleged that the Samajwadi Party government added new sections – some serious and non-bailable – against Shah out of political vendetta.
If the charges are proved to be true, the BJP president could face a prison term of three years.
The returning of the charge sheet by the additional chief judicial magistrate III is now set to become an issue in the Sep 13 bypolls for 11 assembly and one parliamentary constituencies.
Meanwhile, home department officials said police would will be asked to re-investigate the matter thoroughly and submit a new charge sheet.
