Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee president, Rita Bahuguna Joshi, who made derogatory remarks against UP Chief Minister Mayavati, has been granted interim bail by the Additional District Judge of Moradabad court today.

The development raises question of the authenticity of stringent law applied to her, apparently, for political interests.

Mrs Joshi, charged under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, has to apply for regular bail on July 29. She was also booked under laws pertaining to inflammatory speeches and abusive language for her alleged remarks to offer Mayavati Rs 1 crore when she "gets raped".

Defence counsel R.M. Shukla said that deputy superintendent of police, in charge of the intelligence department, has filed FIR while he is legally not authorized to draw up FIR. As per norms, only a police station officer can deal such cases and thus charges should be dropped due to legal flaws in the First Information report.

Mr. Shukla also drew court's attention toward the ill health of the 59-year-old leader and said that she was a victim of political vendetta.