New Delhi:
BJP leader Varun Gandhi has been acquitted in the second of two cases that accused him of delivering hate speeches in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the national elections in 2009.
Mr Gandhi was acquitted in the first case last week because of insufficient evidence. In a statement, Mr Gandhi said he welcomes the court's decision vindicating him. "I am deeply grateful to those who have stood by and believed in me through this difficult time," he said in the statement. (
Read Varun Gandhi's statement)
He has denied that the speeches he delivered were designed to incite communal hatred. Mr Gandhi had not agreed to submit his voice sample to the police. He alleged that his speeches had been edited by local channels to make it seem like he was promoting communal hatred. The broadcasters were unable to furnish the original, unedited footage to the police.
The cases relate to speeches he made in two different towns.
51 witnesses produced by the prosecution did not indict him for delivering speeches to provoke communal hatred.
Because the same witnesses were used for today's case, the acquittal was not unexpected.
Mr Gandhi spent 20 days in jail before he was released on bail and went on to win his Lok Sabha election from Pilibhit.