New Delhi: A Rouse Avenue Court has revived a long-running dispute over claims that Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s name appeared on Delhi’s 1980 voter list before she became an Indian citizen.
Special Judge Vishal Gogne overturned a magistrate’s earlier refusal to order an FIR in the case, ruling that the original decision had gaps and needed to be reconsidered.
The complaint, brought by advocate Vikas Tripathi, questions how Gandhi’s name could have shown up on the electoral rolls in 1980 when she reportedly received Indian citizenship only on April 30, 1983. Tripathi has also pointed to an alleged removal of her name from the rolls in 1982 and its reappearance in 1983, and wants the underlying paperwork and process investigated.
The revision court’s ruling stops short of confirming any wrongdoing. It simply requires the magistrate to reassess the complaint and issue a properly reasoned decision. Judge Gogne noted that the lower court hadn’t fully weighed its options under Section 175(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita — namely, whether to order an FIR or pursue a formal inquiry instead.
The magistrate had originally leaned on the absence of solid evidence for the forgery claims. On review, though, the higher court felt this didn’t sufficiently address whether the complaint pointed to a cognisable offence, and flagged that the ruling had come without a police status report being sought first.
The case now returns to the magistrate’s court, with fresh arguments expected and the next hearing set for September 29, 2026.
Gandhi has rejected the allegations in the past, arguing the complaint lacks solid documentary backing.
To be clear, this ruling only addresses procedural shortcomings in how the complaint was handled earlier — it does not amount to a finding that Gandhi committed any offence or that the 1980 voter-roll allegations have been established.