Lucknow, May 5, 2025 – The Allahabad High Court dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the Indian citizenship of Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. The petition, filed by S Vignesh Shishir, a BJP worker from Karnataka, alleged that Gandhi held dual citizenship of India and the United Kingdom, rendering him ineligible to contest elections under Article 84(A) of the Indian Constitution.The bench, comprising Justices AR Masoodi and Rajeev Singh , upheld Gandhi’s citizenship status, dismissing claims of dual nationality. The petitioner had argued that Gandhi’s alleged British citizenship violated Indian laws prohibiting dual citizenship for elected representatives. However, the court found insufficient evidence to support these claims, bringing an end to the legal challenge.wiggle room for further deliberation.Background of the Case
The PIL was part of a series of legal challenges questioning Gandhi’s eligibility to hold public office. Earlier proceedings saw the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) seeking additional time to verify information from the UK government regarding Gandhi’s citizenship status. On April 21, 2025, the court granted the MHA a 10-day extension to submit its final report. The dismissal of the petition on May 5 marks a decisive victory for Gandhi, reinforcing his legal standing as a Lok Sabha MP from Raebareli.Court’s Observations
During the hearings, the court scrutinized the petitioner’s evidence, including claims related to Gandhi’s income tax returns allegedly filed in the UK. The bench questioned the petitioner’s approach, noting that similar claims had been dismissed in prior cases. The court emphasized that the issue of citizenship had been adequately addressed by the MHA and found no grounds to warrant further investigation or a CBI probe, as demanded by the petitioner.
