Allahabad High Court Halts FIR Against Rahul Gandhi Over Dual Citizenship Allegations

The Allahabad High Court has put a stop to the FIR against Rahul Gandhi concerning allegations of dual citizenship. The court highlighted the importance of hearing from the accused before making any decisions. This case stems from accusations that Gandhi concealed his British citizenship while forming a company in England in 2003. The court's ruling also allows for a central agency to take over the investigation, indicating the seriousness of the allegations. The previous decision by a lower court to deny the FIR was overturned, as the High Court found insufficient investigation into the claims. This development raises significant questions about citizenship and political accountability in India.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 18, 2026, 19:49 IST

Court Decision on FIR Against Rahul Gandhi

On Saturday, the Allahabad High Court intervened to suspend its earlier directive for filing an FIR against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi concerning alleged dual citizenship. According to reports from a news agency, the court emphasized that no decision should be made without hearing from the accused. Just a day prior, the Lucknow bench of the High Court had instructed the Uttar Pradesh police to register an FIR against the Congress MP, who was accused of concealing his British citizenship while establishing a company in England in 2003.

Judicial Findings and Next Steps

The bench, led by Justice Subhash Vidyarthi, also permitted the state government to transfer the investigation to a central agency. The court noted that a preliminary examination of the allegations suggested they could constitute a cognizable offense, warranting a thorough investigation. This directive followed the submission of relevant documents by the Deputy Solicitor General at the court's request. The petition was filed by Karnataka BJP worker Vignesh Shishir, who claimed that Rahul had declared himself a British citizen during the formation of the registered company, Messrs Backops Limited, in August 2003. According to the petitioner, Rahul voluntarily identified his nationality as British and provided a director identification document with addresses in London and Hampshire.

Reversal of Lower Court's Decision

In its previous ruling, the bench annulled a decision made by a special MP/MLA court in Lucknow on January 28, 2025, which had denied the request to file an FIR. The High Court determined that the lower court had inadequately investigated whether the allegations constituted a cognizable offense. During the hearing, Deputy Solicitor General S.B. Pandey presented records from the central government related to the citizenship issue, while the state government's lawyer, V.K. Singh, concurred on the necessity for a preliminary investigation into the allegations.