BJP member S. Vignesh Shishir’s claim that Rahul Gandhi holds British citizenship was not ruled upon on merit; the petitioner is free to pursue alternate legal remedies.
BY PC Bureau
May 5, 2025 — In a significant development, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on Monday disposed of a petition alleging that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi holds dual citizenship, after the Centre expressed its inability to provide a clear timeline for receiving information from the British government. The court, however, left the door open for further legal pursuit by the petitioner.
The division bench, comprising Justices A.R. Masoodi and Rajiv Singh, observed that there was “no justification to keep the petition pending” given the Centre’s continued failure to produce conclusive information regarding Rahul Gandhi’s citizenship status.
Centre Unable to Commit to Timeline
The case, brought by Karnataka-based lawyer and BJP member S. Vignesh Shishir, had been pending since July 2024. The petitioner claimed to possess documentary evidence—including emails and registration details—suggesting that Rahul Gandhi once declared British citizenship in official records. He argued that this made the Congress MP ineligible to hold Indian citizenship or a seat in the Lok Sabha.
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Earlier, the court had directed the Union government to clarify within ten days whether Rahul Gandhi was an Indian citizen. It had scheduled May 5, 2025, as the date for follow-up proceedings. However, during Monday’s hearing, the Centre informed the bench that it was still awaiting information from UK authorities and could not commit to any timeline for its receipt.
Allahabad High Court’s Lucknow Bench dismisses PIL filed against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi challenging his citizenship.
Petition claimed that Rahul Gandhi is a British citizen which makes him ineligible to contest elections under Article 84(A) of Constitution. pic.twitter.com/8IYx6A3meq
— Salt News (@SaltNews_) May 5, 2025
This vague response appeared to frustrate the bench, which noted that such indefinite delay could not justify the continued pendency of the matter in court.
Petitioner Allowed to Seek Other Legal Remedies
While disposing of the petition, the court granted S. Vignesh Shishir the liberty to pursue alternative legal remedies. This typically includes filing a complaint with the appropriate ministry or seeking intervention from constitutional bodies such as the Election Commission or the Supreme Court.
Legal observers suggest this move may hint at procedural limitations rather than the merit—or lack thereof—of the allegations.
Background of the Allegations
Allegations regarding Rahul Gandhi’s citizenship have circulated for years, primarily revolving around filings made to the UK’s Companies House in the early 2000s. At the time, Rahul was reportedly listed as a “British citizen” in documents related to BackOps Ltd, a company he was associated with.
These claims have been raised repeatedly in political and legal forums. In 2015, the Ministry of Home Affairs had also received complaints demanding action over the issue. However, no definitive conclusion or legal action has been taken against Gandhi based on these claims.
Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party have consistently denied the allegations, calling them politically motivated attempts to discredit him. They maintain that he is an Indian citizen by birth and has never held foreign nationality.
Though the petition has now been disposed of, it may not be the end of the controversy. The court’s decision leaves open the possibility for the case to re-emerge in another legal venue. The BJP has occasionally brought up the issue in public forums, suggesting that it reflects deeper questions about Gandhi’s credibility and transparency. However, critics argue that repeated references to the citizenship claim serve as a diversion from core policy debates.
