The Allahabad High Court’s Lucknow bench held an in-chamber hearing in the alleged dual citizenship case involving Rahul Gandhi, calling it sensitive. The court scheduled April 15 hearing while examining a plea challenging refusal to register an FIR.
LUCKNOW: The Allahabad High Court (Lucknow bench) conducted an extensive hearing in the alleged dual citizenship matter involving Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. The session was held in the judge’s chamber after the Central government described the issue as sensitive. The bench scheduled the next hearing for April 15.
Justice Subhash Vidyarthi issued the order on a petition filed by S. Vignesh Shishir, a BJP worker from Karnataka. The petitioner challenged the January 28 order of the special MP/MLA court in Lucknow, which had declined his request to direct registration of an FIR against Rahul Gandhi, stating that the court was not competent to adjudicate the citizenship question.
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Shishir seeks registration of an FIR and a thorough investigation into the matter, alleging multiple violations by Rahul Gandhi under the IPC, the Official Secrets Act, the Foreigners Act, and the Passport Act.
In an earlier hearing, the bench asked the Central government what steps it had taken in response to a complaint alleging Rahul Gandhi’s British citizenship.
Earlier proceedings in the Special MP/MLA Court in Lucknow had concluded hearings in the contentious dual citizenship case involving the Leader of the Opposition. The court had reserved its decision and set January 28 for pronouncement. Special Judge Alok Verma heard the matter and was to determine whether to order FIR registration and a detailed probe into the allegations against the former Congress president.
Background: Rahul Gandhi’s Dual Citizenship Case
The matter arose from a complaint by S. Vignesh Shishir, a BJP worker from Karnataka, asserting that Rahul Gandhi holds British citizenship and therefore would be ineligible to retain Indian citizenship under domestic law.
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The complainant claimed that documents and emails, purportedly from the British government, listed Rahul Gandhi as a British citizen and were submitted to the court as evidence.
Shishir requested registration of an FIR and a comprehensive investigation into the alleged dual citizenship. He also sought revocation of Gandhi’s Indian citizenship, arguing that holding foreign citizenship carries significant legal consequences.
The petition accuses Gandhi of wrongdoing under various statutes, including provisions of the Indian Penal Code, the Official Secrets Act, the Foreigners Act, and the Passport Act.
The court is reported to have taken on record 45 annexures, several documents, and a sealed envelope provided by the complainant.
The original complaint was filed in the Special MP/MLA Court in Rae Bareli, Gandhi’s parliamentary constituency, but the case was later transferred to Lucknow by the Allahabad High Court. The transfer followed the petitioner’s claim of threats to his life in Rae Bareli.
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