Allahabad High Court Directs FIR Against Rahul Gandhi In Alleged British Citizenship Row
Allahabad High Court directs FIR registration against Rahul Gandhi, sets aside MP/MLA court refusal in dual citizenship plea.
Allahabad High Court, Lucknow Bench, directs FIR against Rahul Gandhi over allegations of holding British citizenship.
The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court on Friday directed registration of an FIR against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in connection with allegations that he holds British citizenship.
The direction came while allowing a plea filed by Karnataka-based petitioner S. Vignesh Shishir, who had challenged a January 28 order of a special MP/MLA court in Lucknow refusing to order registration of an FIR. The high court has now asked the concerned police station in Rae Bareli to register the case and proceed in accordance with law.
The petitioner has alleged that Gandhi is a dual citizen and claimed to possess documents and communications purportedly from the United Kingdom indicating that he holds British nationality.
On this basis, he sought criminal action under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Sections 318, 335, 340, 236, 237, 61, 148, 147, 152, 238 and 241 (corresponding to Sections 415/420, 468, 471, 199, 200, 120B, 148, 147, 124A, 203 and 201 of the IPC, respectively). He also invoked provisions of the Official Secrets Act, the Passport Act, and the Foreigners Act.
The high court noted that the allegations warranted investigation and directed the Uttar Pradesh authorities to either conduct the probe themselves or refer the matter to a central agency if required.
The case has its origins in a complaint initially filed before a special MP/MLA court, which had declined to entertain the plea on the ground that questions relating to citizenship fall outside its jurisdiction. The petitioner subsequently moved the high court challenging that decision.
In earlier proceedings, the high court had sought records from the Centre and permitted it to be impleaded as a party, with hearings at times conducted in chambers due to the sensitive nature of the material placed on record.
The court has now directed that an FIR be registered and the matter be investigated in accordance with law.
A detailed order of the high court is awaited.
Case Title: S. Vignesh Shishir vs. Sri Rahul Gandhi And 3 Others
Order Date: April 17, 2026
Bench: Justice Subhash Vidyarthi