TNN
Lucknow, Apr 6: In a fresh twist to the hate speech controversy, Varun Gandhi refused to give a sample of his voice to a team from Pilibhit police on Sunday.
Headed by investigating officer Maniram Rao, the team reached the Etah district jail, where Varun is lodged after being booked under National Security Act (NSA). But they had to return empty-handed as Varun refused to co-operate.
Police said they wanted to examine the CD containing the alleged hate speech by Varun during the Lok Sabha election campaign in Pilibhit where he is the BJP candidate, by forensic experts.
Varun has claimed that the CD was doctored.
Rao and five of his subordinates arrived at the Etah district jail around 9:30 am. The team produced the letter of permission from the chief judicial magistrate (CJM), Pilibhit, to record Varun's voice samples before the jail superintendent Viresh Rai Sharma.
After some arguments with the jail authorities over carrying a video and audio recorder with them inside the jail without any specific permission, the team was informed that Varun has refused to give with his voice samples. Varun is believed to have told the team that he would not allow them to record any sample in the absence of his lawyer or without his permission.