Citizenship case: Court defers FIR move against Rahul Gandhi, seeks legal clarity first

In a significant legal turn, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has deferred its order directing registration of an FIR against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi , choosing instead to first address a key procedural question.

The bench, led by Justice Subhash Vidyarthi, said it would examine whether issuing prior notice to the accused is legally mandatory before ordering such action. The matter has now been posted for April 20 , effectively placing the earlier oral direction on hold.

The case revolves around allegations of dual citizenship , a claim Gandhi has consistently denied. The controversy stems from documents linked to a UK-based company where his nationality was allegedly declared as British, raising questions under Indian citizenship laws. While the issue has surfaced earlier in political debates, no conclusive finding has been reached so far .

The current proceedings arise from a petition filed by BJP worker S. Vignesh Shishir, who alleged that Gandhi incorporated Backops Ltd in 2003 and declared himself a British national in official filings. The plea also cites company returns from 2005 and 2006 carrying similar declarations, before the firm was dissolved in 2009.

Earlier, the bench had observed that prima facie cognisable offences appeared to be made out and allowed the Uttar Pradesh government to consider a central agency probe. However, while finalising the order, the court came across a full bench ruling mandating prior notice to the proposed accused , a point not raised during earlier arguments.

With the focus now shifting to procedural correctness and due process , the case enters a crucial phase that will determine its next legal course.