The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on Monday deliberated on a petition concerning the alleged dual citizenship of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. Following extensive arguments, a single-judge bench of Justice Subhash Vidyarthi scheduled the next hearing for April 15, 2026.
The proceedings were notably conducted in the judge’s chamber after the Central Government submitted that the matter involved sensitive issues.
The case stems from a petition filed by S Vignesh Shishir, a BJP worker from Karnataka. Shishir is challenging a January 28, 2026, order issued by a special MP/MLA court in Lucknow. The lower court had previously rejected his plea for the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Gandhi, citing a lack of jurisdiction to determine matters pertaining to Indian citizenship.
The petitioner is seeking a comprehensive investigation and the registration of an FIR under several statutes, including:
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)
- Official Secrets Act
- Foreigners Act
- Passport Act
During previous sessions, the High Court had directed the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to clarify what actions had been taken regarding the complaints alleging that Gandhi holds British citizenship. In response, the MHA produced relevant records, which the court has since examined.
The litigation originally commenced in a special MP/MLA court in Rae Bareli. However, upon the petitioner’s request, the Allahabad High Court transferred the proceedings to Lucknow on December 17, 2025.
As the Central Government maintains the sensitivity of the records and arguments involved, the court continues to examine the maintainability of the plea and the validity of the allegations leveled by the petitioner.
