The Uttar Pradesh Police have let Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) president Amit Shah off the hook in a 2014 case registered against him for allegedly giving hate speeches in the Muzaffarnagar district.
Shah in April 2014 had addressed a rally in Muzaffarnagar where he allegedly made inflammatory remarks while campaigning for the BJP. The speech led to the Election Commission (EC) banning him from campaigning in UP, which was later lifted.
Sub divisional magistrate of Minrapur/assistant returning officer Baburam, on the orders of the EC, had filed an FIR against Shah under Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the IPC and Section 123(3) of the Representation of People Act (relating to appeal by a candidate to vote on basis of religion, race, caste, community or language).
The UP Police, presenting its report in a local court in Muzaffarnagar on Tuesday, said there was no evidence against Shah in the case.
The report will now be presented to the judicial magistrate, who will take the final decision.
Shah, in the speech on 4 April, 2014, was accused of saying humiliation has to be avenged. He later explained that he meant that voting for the BJP would be the revenge.
According to Press Trust of India, Shah is also believed to have said: "If (Narendra) Modi wins, 'mulla' Mulayam's government will fall."
The BJP president, in his address at Barwar village, is also believed to have said the Samajwadi Party treats Muslims in the state as vote banks since people of other communities would not vote for them.
