New Delhi: Charges have been framed in the special MP/MLA court against Congress MP Imran Masood from Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh ten years after he made the ‘boti-boti’ remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Lok Sabha elections 2014 which sparked a massive row. The decision in the case is likely to come soon. If he is sentenced for over two years, then the Congress MP may also have to lose his membership of Parliament.
The trial will be conducted in the court. Sources said that the sections under which the charges have been framed against Masood have a provision of punishment of 5 to 7 years. If he is proved guilty in court, then Imran Masood may lose his membership of Parliament, they added.
Ten years back, Imran Masood had made the ‘Boti-Boti Kat Denge’ remark, the video of which went viral. The objectionable statement caused a lot of uproar. Later, a case was registered against Imran Masood regarding this on March 27, 2014 at the Deoband police station. He was charged with breaching the model code of conduct, violating peace and making casteist comments. The police recorded the statements of 19 people in this case, including four policemen as witnesses. He was also arrested and sent to jail.
What objectionable remark did he make
In the viral video, Masood was purportedly heard stating that Saharanpur was not Gujarat, where the number of Muslims were only four per cent. “Saharanpur is not Gujarat…42 per cent Muslims live here…Modi will be cut to pieces if he comes here,” Masood had allegedly said while addressing a public meeting in Deoband. He also made objectionable remarks against two BSP MLAs in Saharanpur. Masood was then a Lok Sabha candidate of Congress. Although Masood later apologised for his statement, the legal proceedings did not stop.
Decision will be declared soon
Masood was charged in the MP-MLA court under sections that carry a punishment of more than 5 years. The hearing will be held in court. And the decision will be announced soon. If Masood is found guilty in the court, then he may have to face legal consequences. Hearing in this case will now take place in the court of Special Judge Mohit Sharma, where the verdict will be announced based on witnesses and evidence presented by the prosecution.
