The Delhi High Court is currently reviewing a plea filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy that seeks directives for the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to address his request for revoking Rahul Gandhi’s Indian citizenship. This development coincides with ongoing investigations by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into allegations concerning Gandhi’s citizenship status.
During a recent hearing, the court learned that the CBI is actively probing the case, following evidence submitted by another petitioner, Shishir, in a related Allahabad High Court petition. Shishir, who claims to have provided “very confidential evidence” to the CBI, is also pushing for an official investigation under the Citizenship Act, 1955. He highlighted the separation in the legal proceedings between his case and Swamy’s plea, arguing against the creation of parallel legal actions.
Swamy’s contention centers on allegations that Gandhi, who is the current Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, disclosed British citizenship to the UK government, implying possession of a British passport. This claim, according to Swamy, contravenes Article 9 of the Indian Constitution and the Citizenship Act, which stipulates that Indian citizenship automatically ceases upon voluntary acquisition of foreign citizenship.
The court instructed Shishir to formally apply to join Swamy’s petition to consolidate the issues at hand and scheduled further hearings for December 6. It also directed that all pertinent documents should be submitted through the court registry rather than via email, as previously done by some parties.
Previously, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court queried the Centre about its response to Shishir’s representation, which also demanded an examination of Gandhi’s citizenship status based on detailed inquiries he had conducted.
Swamy has been vocal in his assertions that Gandhi’s alleged dual citizenship should legally disqualify him from holding Indian citizenship. He criticized the lack of response from the MHA to his multiple representations since 2019, signaling a significant oversight in addressing his concerns.
