Allahabad High Court Orders FIR Against Rahul Gandhi Over Alleged British Citizenship Claims

The Allahabad High Court has instructed the authorities to file a first information report (FIR) against Rahul Gandhi, the prominent Congress leader, over allegations that he holds British citizenship. The directive was issued by Justice Subhash Vidyarthi on Friday, following a petition presented by S. Vignesh Shishir, who is associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka.

The controversy arose after Shishir claimed that Gandhi had registered his nationality as British while being associated with Backops Limited, a UK-based company founded in 2003. The petitioner provided details of the company to substantiate his allegations. He also reported having previously filed a complaint with the Raebareli Police in July 2024, requesting the registration of an FIR against Gandhi under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and under Section 12 of the Passports Act.

Section 12 of the Passports Act addresses offenses related to the misuse of passports, including the submission of false applications and possession of forged documents. Rahul Gandhi currently serves as the Member of Parliament for Rae Bareli, a constituency that has been a stronghold of the Congress party.

The situation escalated when the local police did not act upon Shishir’s initial complaint, prompting him to approach the trial court for intervention. His request for an FIR was rejected earlier in January by a Lucknow-based court, leading him to escalate the matter to the High Court.

In August, the High Court had previously directed the Union government to oversee the investigation. With this latest ruling, the court has now set into motion the legal process that could see serious implications for Gandhi, should the allegations be substantiated. This case adds another layer to the ongoing political tensions between the Congress and the BJP, highlighting the contentious nature of Indian politics.

Source: scroll.in