Allahabad High Court Orders FIR Against LoP Rahul Gandhi On Plea Alleging British Citizenship
The Allahabad High Court’s Lucknow Bench ordered the registration of an FIR against Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, over allegations of holding British citizenship.
Case Background
A BJP worker from Karnataka, S. Vignesh Shishir, filed the petition claiming Rahul Gandhi declared himself as British in records of UK-based company Backops Ltd, where he was allegedly a director. This followed a trial court’s dismissal of his initial plea for action under laws like the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Official Secrets Act, Passport Act, and Foreigners Act. Shishir also urged cancellation of Gandhi’s Indian citizenship via the Home Ministry.
Court Order Details
Justice Subhash Vidhyarthi found a prima facie case after reviewing documents submitted in a sealed cover. The court directed Raebareli’s Kotwali police station to lodge the FIR and investigate, allowing referral to the CBI if needed. The order came while overturning a January 28 special MP-MLA court rejection.
This development escalates long-standing political claims about Gandhi’s nationality, potentially triggering deeper probes into dual citizenship under Indian law, which prohibits holding foreign citizenship. Reports spread rapidly across media, highlighting sealed evidence as pivotal.
