Was Sonia Gandhi on Delhi’s 1980 Electoral Rolls Before Acquiring Citizenship? Court Reserves Order on Criminal Complaint

Narang had told the Court that her name was deleted from the roll in 1982, only to be re-entered in 1983 after she obtained citizenship. “The reason for the deletion is nowhere to be found. There can be two reasons, either someone takes the citizenship of another country or files a Form 8 (application for correction in particulars). But the prerequisite is that the person has to be a citizen,” Narang had said.

He had questioned what documents were submitted to the Election Commission when her name was first included in 1980. “There is some forgery, and a public authority has been cheated,” he had alleged, urging the Court to direct the registration of an FIR under appropriate provisions of law.

Narang had clarified that he was not seeking to prejudge the case but only to trigger a lawful inquiry. “My limited request is to either direct the police to register an FIR. Whether the offences are made out or not is the domain of the police,” he had submitted. He further had requested that, in the interim, the court issue notice to the police to file a status report.

Sonia Gandhi, born in Italy, moved to India after marrying Rajiv Gandhi in 1968. She applied for Indian citizenship in 1983 and has since been a naturalized Indian citizen. Her citizenship has been a recurring point of political attack, especially from her opponents in the Bharatiya Janata Party and allied groups, who have questioned both the timing and the process of her naturalization.

Over the years, challenges to her citizenship status have reached various forums. In the early 2000s, a petition was filed before the Supreme Court questioning her eligibility to hold constitutional office on the ground of her foreign origin. The Court dismissed the plea, holding that she was a valid Indian citizen. In 2004, ahead of the general elections, the issue resurfaced when she was set to become Prime Minister after the Congress-led UPA’s victory. Intense political opposition over her foreign origin ultimately led her to decline the post, paving the way for Dr. Manmohan Singh’s appointment.

The present plea focuses narrowly on the question of electoral rolls. Under Indian law, only Indian citizens are entitled to be included as voters. If, as alleged, Sonia Gandhi’s name was indeed entered in 1980 before she was legally entitled, the matter could raise questions about procedural lapses or deliberate misrepresentation before the Election Commission.

At the same time, electoral rolls are compiled and revised by local officials, and errors of inclusion or deletion are not uncommon. Whether the alleged inclusion in 1980 was a mistake, a result of incomplete verification, or something more serious, would be a matter for investigation if the court directs one.