Lucknow, July 20 (IANS) The Allahabad High Court Monday issued notice to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Varun Gandhi on a petition by his uncle challenging his election from Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh.
Varun Gandhi’s uncle V.M. Singh had filed the petition July 1 and the court asked the BJP MP to clear his stand over the issue and listed the case for Aug 25 for the next hearing.

Singh, a Congress leader, had lost the election to Varun Gandhi.

Singh alleged that Varun Gandhi tried to seek votes by spreading hatred against members of a particular community that amounted to corrupt practice as defined under Section 123 (3) of the Representation of the People Act.

Uttar Pradesh police have charged Varun Gandhi for the alleged hate speeches he made in Pilibhit during the Lok Sabha poll campaign.

Three criminal cases are registered against him for making anti-Muslim remarks during the election campaign in March.

The Uttar Pradesh government had even slapped the stringent National Security Act (NSA) against Gandhi. But it was later revoked.