Sikh Remarks Row: Allahabad HC Halts Varanasi Court Proceedings Against Rahul Gandhi Till Judgment
Rahul Gandhi Sikh remarks case
The Allahabad High Court on September 3, 2025, ordered that Magistrate Court proceedings against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will remain on hold until it delivers its judgment in his criminal revision petition.
Justice Sameer Jain reserved judgment in Gandhi’s plea challenging the July 21, 2025 order of a Varanasi MP-MLA that directed the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) court to re-examine a plea seeking registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against him for remarks made during a 2024 visit to the United States concerning the Sikh community.
Gandhi’s counsel, senior advocate Gopal Swaroop Chaturvedi assisted by advocate Alok Ranjan Mishra, argued the matter before the high court. Additional Advocate General Manish Goyal, assisted by AGA Roopak Chaubey, represented the State of Uttar Pradesh, while advocate Satendra Kumar Tripathi appeared for the complainant.
The court directed that “till the delivery of judgment, learned Magistrate shall not proceed any further with the matter pursuant to the impugned order dated 21.07.2025".
The case arose after Varanasi resident Nageshwar Mishra filed an application with the ACJM court seeking to register an FIR, claiming that Gandhi’s statement where he allegedly remarked that the environment in India was "not good for Sikhs" was provocative and divisive. He alleged that Gandhi had falsely claimed Sikhs in India feel unsafe and are not allowed to wear turbans or visit gurdwara, comments which, according to Mishra, could provoke communal unrest.
ACJM initially rejected the plea in November 2024, citing a lack of jurisdiction, as the alleged incident took place outside India.
Undeterred, Mishra filed a revision petition before the Varanasi MP-MLA court, which upheld his plea on July 21, 2025, and instructed the ACJM to reconsider. Special Sessions Judge (MP-MLA court) Yajurveda Vikram Singh allowed Mishra’s revision plea, observing that the additional chief judicial magistrate (ACJM) had prematurely dismissed the case on November 28, 2024. Court then directed that the complaint be reconsidered and proceeded with as per law.
The next stage is a re-examination of the complaint to assess whether it warrants formal registration of a case.
However, Gandhi, through his legal team, filed a revision petition in the Allahabad High Court. The matter was heard before Justice Sameer Jain, who has reserved his verdict.
Rahul Gandhi’s US remarks had triggered controversy last year, after he claimed that Sikhs in India live under an atmosphere of insecurity. Mishra, in response, filed a petition arguing the comment was part of a larger conspiracy to trigger a ‘civil war’.
Case Title: Rahul Gandhi vs State of UP and Another
Order date: September 3, 2025
Bench: Justice Sameer Jain