A new development has come to the fore regarding the row surrounding the nationality of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as alleged by petitioner Vignesh Shishir. After Vignesh Shsihir filed a complaint against Rahul Gandhi questioning him of being a British national and allegedly furnishing wrong information in the Lok Sabha election affidavit, the Raebareli police have issued a notice to him to provide all the requisite documents in support of the complaint so that further course of action in the matter can be initiated as per law.
It was on July 26, 2024 that Vignesh Shishir, had filed a complaint against Rahul Gandhi seeking registration of First Information Report for various serious offences under BNS and Passport Act.
I had filed a complaint on 26/07/2024. Against Shri. Rahul Gandhi, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, Rae Bareli Constituency regarding his British Citizenship and Nationality.
Uttar Pradesh Police, Rae Bareli District have issued notice dated 19.08.2025 1/2.
— VIGNESH SHISHIR (@VIGNESHBJP_KTK) August 19, 2025
S Vignesh Shishir, had filed an RTI Application seeking Copy of the United Kingdom / British Passport of Rahul Gandhi from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India and all details of the correspondences between the Government of India and Government of United Kingdom which were carried out by Government of India based on the Orders of Allahabad High Court at Lucknow Bench in PIL No 831/ 2024.
It is learnt from Vignesh Shishir that the official reply has been received by him under RTI Act, 2005 contents of which he has refused to divulge and added that the same will be produced by him before Allahabad High Court in the hearing of the review petition which will be coming up soon.
Click here to download the directive of the Allahabad High Court’s Lucknow Bench
Background of the Rahul Gandhi Citizenship Case
The long-standing controversy surrounding Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s alleged British citizenship had gained fresh momentum recently as the Allahabad High Court (Lucknow bench) reopened the case following the submission of new evidence by petitioner S. Vignesh Shishir. This development reignited a complex legal and political battle that questioned Gandhi’s eligibility to hold public office in India, a nation that does not recognize dual citizenship.
The case, which had seen its share of twists and turns, including an earlier disposal by the High Court, has been propelled back into the spotlight by what the petitioner claims are compelling new documents and videos. These pieces of evidence, reportedly sourced from London, Vietnam, and Uzbekistan, purport to shed further light on Gandhi’s citizenship status and have been presented to the court.
The roots of this legal challenge trace back to allegations that Rahul Gandhi, while serving as a director of a UK-based company, Backops Limited, had declared himself a British citizen.
Complainant S Vignesh Shishir, Member of Bharatiya Janata Party had made a representation in which he had provided substantial evidences in the form of information related to a company by name M/s BACKOPS LIMITED Registered in the United Kingdom bearing Company Number 4874597. Having registration certificate vide bar code N04874597A, (Details of the copy were furnished to the court) dated 21/08/2003. According to Shishir, the in the mentioned Company Rahul Gandhi has served / worked / declared to the United Kingdom Companies House as a Director and Company Secretary.
In support of his complaint against Rahul Gandhi being a British citizen, complainant Vignesh has provided information, documents, evidences, photographs, videos and United Kingdom Government’s Official Correspondences.
In wake of the information and other details that have been provided by complainant Vignesh, he has requested for registration of a First Information Report against Rahul Gandhi and conduct a Detailed Investigation against Rahul Gandhi, Member of Parliament Lok Sabha from Rae Bareli Parliamentary Constituency No 36, Uttar Pradesh with regard to having British Citizenship as per available records in various sources under section 318(4), 336(3), 340(2), 229 and 61(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, (BNS) and Section 12 of the Passports Act, 1967.
Petitioner S Vignesh Shishir, Member of Bharatiya Janata Party, initially brought this claim forward, arguing that such a declaration would render Gandhi ineligible to contest elections in India under the Election Commission’s rules and would warrant the cancellation of his Indian citizenship under Section 9(2) of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
