The Allahabad High Court reserved its verdict on Rahul Gandhi’s challenge to a Varanasi court order seeking reconsideration of an FIR over his alleged US remarks. Justice Sameer Jain said the special court’s order will be “kept in abeyance.”
Prayagraj: On Sep 3, the Allahabad High Court on Wednesday reserved its decision on a criminal revision petition filed by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. The case is linked to a special court order that had directed a magistrate’s court in Varanasi to reconsider a plea for registering an FIR against Gandhi over a remark he allegedly made in the United States last year.
Justice Sameer Jain, while hearing Gandhi’s petition, said that the order of the special court would be “kept in abeyance.”
The controversy began after one Nageshwar Mishra from Varanasi filed an application before a magistrate.
He alleged that during an event held in the US in September 2024, Gandhi made a statement that “the environment in India was not good for Sikhs.” Mishra claimed the remark was “provocative and divisive” and asked the court to direct the police to register an FIR.
However, the magistrate’s court rejected the application on November 28, 2024. The court held that since the alleged speech was “made in the US,” the matter was beyond its jurisdiction.
Following this, Mishra approached a revisional court, challenging the rejection order. On July 21, 2025, the revisional court ruled in his favour and directed the magistrate’s court to hear the matter “afresh.”
Before that, Mishra had also attempted to get an FIR registered at the Sarnath police station in Varanasi, but his efforts failed.
Challenging the revisional court’s July 21 order, Gandhi moved the Allahabad High Court. His counsel argued that the Varanasi court’s decision was “wrong, illegal and without jurisdiction.”
With the High Court reserving its verdict, the case remains pending for final orders on whether an FIR can be pursued in connection with Gandhi’s alleged remarks made overseas.
Background:
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has approached the Allahabad High Court in response to a ruling by a special MP-MLA court in Varanasi. The Varanasi court had directed a subordinate court to reconsider an application seeking the registration of an FIR against him over remarks he allegedly made about Sikhs during a visit to the U.S. in 2024.
The case is scheduled for hearing on Monday, September 1, 2025, before a single bench led by Justice Sameer Jain.
Previously, on November 28, 2024, the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM MP-MLA) in Varanasi had dismissed an application from Nageshwar Mishra seeking to register an FIR against Gandhi, holding that the speech was made abroad and thus outside its jurisdiction.
Mishra challenged this dismissal in the sessions court, and on July 21, 2025, the Special Judge (MP/MLA) ordered the ACJM to reconsider the matter.
In his revision petition to the Allahabad High Court, Rahul Gandhi contends that the special court’s order is “wrong, illegal and without jurisdiction.”
During a program in the U.S. in September 2024, Gandhi reportedly stated that the environment in India was not conducive for Sikhs. These remarks were described as “provocative and divisive,” triggering protests and attempts to initiate legal action.
Nageshwar Mishra, a Varanasi resident, initially approached the Sarnath police station to file an FIR but, after failing to do so, submitted an application in court.
The petition argued that Gandhi’s statement could harm the reputation of India and the Sikh community, potentially creating fear and insecurity among Sikhs both in India and abroad.
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