Amit Shah chargesheeted for objectionable speech during LS polls

BJP President Amit Shah was on Friday chargesheeted by the police for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct by delivering an "objectionable" speech during campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh.

The charge sheet was filed against 49-year-old Shah in a court in Muzaffarnagar for allegedly seeking votes on the grounds of religion, race, caste and community.

The Deputy SP of New Mandi Circle, Yogender Singh, said the charge sheet has been filed under various sections of IPC, including 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, etc.), 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class) and 505 (false statement, rumour, etc. circulated with intent to cause mutiny or offence against the public peace), and Section 123-3 of Representation of People Act (making an appeal to vote on the grounds of religion amounting to corrupt practice).

Police had registered a case against Shah for allegedly violating the model code following a direction from the Election Commission, which had also banned him from campaigning in the state on April 4, 2014.

The FIR was lodged against Shah in New Mandi police station by a district official and the case was handed over to Sub-Inspector BL Shah for investigation.

Shah had landed in a major controversy for allegedly saying that the 2014 Lok Sabha polls were an opportunity to seek "revenge for the insult" inflicted during the riots in Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh last year.

Taking note of the "revenge" remark by Shah, the EC had issued a notice to him for prima facie violation of the model code. Shah had denied having violated the model code and asked EC to reconsider its notice to him claiming that the remarks were not recorded in the right perspective. The ban on him was later lifted.