Rahul Gandhi:Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court,Justice Subhash Vidyarthi observed that the allegations were serious enough to warrant a formal probe

On April 17, 2026, the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court ordered the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Rahul Gandhi regarding allegations of dual citizenship. The court directed the Kotwali police station in Rae Bareli to file the FIR and initiate a detailed investigation. 

Key Details of the High Court Order

• Court Observation: Justice Subhash Vidyarthi observed that the allegations were serious enough to warrant a formal probe.

• Investigating Agency: The court suggested the Uttar Pradesh government could conduct the probe itself or refer it to a central agency, such as the CBI.

• Grounds for FIR: The petitioner alleged violations under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Passport Act, the Foreigners Act, and the Official Secrets Act.

• The Petitioner: The case was brought by S. Vignesh Shishir, a BJP worker from Karnataka. 

Background of the Case

• Earlier Rejection: The High Court's decision sets aside a January 28, 2026, order from a special MP/MLA court in Lucknow, which had previously dismissed the plea citing a lack of jurisdiction over citizenship matters.

• Specific Allegations: The petitioner claimed to have documents and "confidential emails" from the UK government indicating that Rahul Gandhi declared his nationality as British in filings for a UK-based company, Backops Ltd, between 2003 and 2009.

• Delhi High Court Status: Separately, the Delhi High Court recently allowed a plea by Dr. Subramanian Swamy on the same issue to be heard by a roster bench.