The word on the Varun Gandhi tapes is out and it says not doctored. The Forensic Science Laboratory’s report, which was submitted to the Pilibhit police on Saturday, confirms what many believed—it was indeed Varun Gandhi’s voice on the tapes containing the hate speeches he delivered in Desh Nagar on March 7 and Barkhera in Pilibhit on March 8.

Varun had alleged that the recordings were “doctored” and there was a “political conspiracy” to defame him. “These are not my words and not my voice,” Varun had said after the footage was aired on TV channels.

After Varun refused to give a sample of his voice to police at the Etah and Pilibhit jail, the police arranged a microchip containing a recording of his March 7 public meeting at Desh Nagar in Pilibhit. A top police official confirmed that the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) has reported that Varun’s voice matched with that in the recording. “Three exhibits were sent to FSL—a compact disk, a mini video cassette that was recorded at Barkhera and a microchip, voice recorded at Desh Nagar. All three exhibits were arranged through media houses,” added the official.

The Pilibhit police, who have almost completed their investigation and were waiting for the FSL report, are likely to move the state government soon in order to file a chargesheet against Varun in court. “The FSL report is second evidence against Varun. We already have affidavits and recorded statements of 20 people,” said investigating officer Mani Ram Rao.

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