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Reprieve for Varun as SC grants him parole for two weeks
The Supreme Court today ordered 'forthwith release' of Bharatiya Janata Party leader Varun Gandhi for two weeks to enable him to file his nomination for Pilibhit Lok Sabha constituency and for the poll campaign. He will be out on parole after furnishing a bond of Rs 50,000 and sureties of the same amount.Listen to podcast
The Supreme Court Thursday ordered "forthwith release" of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Varun Gandhi for two weeks to enable him to file his nomination for Pilibhit Lok Sabha constituency and for the poll campaign.
A bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishanan, Justice P. Sathasivam and Justice J.M. Panchal ordered Varun Gandhi's release, pending a final decision on his lawsuit challenging his detention under National Security Act (NSA) by the Uttar Pradesh government.
The bench ordered Varun's temporary release dismissing the Uttar Pradesh Government's stiff opposition.
The court said Varun would be released on Thursday after submitting an affidavit to Etah jail authorities, swearing that he will not make provocative speeches during the poll campaign. He would be filing a similar affidavit later to the Supreme Court by Monday.
Varun's lawsuit challenging invocation of NSA against him would come up for hearing on May 1.
The 'other' Gandhi had been arrested after a series of campaign speeches vilifying Muslims that had purportedly been delivered by him.
After the SC decision, the BJP said that Varun will now use this time to work for the party. Varun was booked by Mayawti Government in UP under the stringent National Security Act for alleged hate speeches in Pilibhit.
