Defamation suit filed against Varun Gandhi
By IANSMonday, June 7, 2010
NEW DELHI - Bharatiya Janata Party leader and member of parliament Varun Gandhi has been dragged to court by V.M. Singh, his uncle and Congress candidate from Uttar Pradesh’s Pilibhit constituency in 2009 general elections, alleging defamation.
Singh filed a defamation suit against Gandhi in the Delhi High Court last week.
Justice J.R. Midha while taking up the matter objected to the delay in filing the defamation suit but issued notice to Gandhi and asked him to file his reply by July 28.
Singh in his petition stated various instances wherein Gandhi used defamatory language against him during the election campaign.
Singh, who was among the wealthiest candidates in the election, was pitted by the Congress against his own nephew Gandhi.
The petitioner is a first cousin of the sitting MP’s mother and former union minister of state Maneka Gandhi.
The election in Pilibhit witnessed a controversy during the campaign due to Gandhi’s hate speeches against Muslims. He was jailed by the Uttar Pradesh government and charged under the National Security Act for the speeches.
