The Allahabad High Court dismissed a plea challenging Rahul Gandhi’s citizenship for lack of evidence
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. File. | Photo credit: PTI
The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court recently dismissed a petition challenging the citizenship and parliamentary membership of the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, after the petitioner failed to submit documentary evidence to support his claims of British nationality.
A division bench comprising Justice Shekhar B Saraf and Justice Abdhesh Kumar Chaudhary allowed Ashok Pandey to personally withdraw the petition on 31 August.
The petitioner alleged that Mr. Gandhi incorporated a UK-based company, M/s Backops Limited, in 2003 and claimed to be a director and major shareholder as well as a British national.
The court noted that although the petitioner’s initial arguments appeared to be “very attractive” and could have “far-reaching implications”, he did not produce documentary material when asked to substantiate his claims.
No evidence
“…when asked what was the basis of his above submission, the petitioner could not produce a single document relating to the incorporation of the company or the records of the Registrar of Companies of Britain nor any statement to the effect that the above Shri Rahul Gandhi @ Raul Vinci has declared himself to be a British citizen. The only document which the petition purports to refer to is a letter issued from the University of Cambridge. certifying a study by one Raul Vinci which, according to this court, does not in any way prove any of the contentions challenged by this motion,” the court noted while rejecting the motion.
The bench also took cognizance of previous litigations related to Mr. Gandhi’s citizenship. According to the procedure, similar proposals have been submitted since 2015.
Previous coordination benches have noted that matters relating to termination of Indian citizenship under Section 9(2) of the Citizenship Act, 1955 fall within the statutory domain of the Central Government.
Published – 02 Sep 2026 22:33 IST