New Delhi: The British citizenship controversy surrounding Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has resurfaced, with S Vignesh Shishir, filing a second appeal before the Central Information Commission (CIC). Shishir is seeking the disclosure of what he says are crucial documents related to the case — including a copy of Rahul Gandhi’s alleged British/UK passport, as well as official correspondences from the UK government to India’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
In his petition, Vignesh Shishir argues that the information is essential for bringing transparency to a matter involving a public representative currently serving as the Leader of the Opposition and the Member of Parliament from Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh. He maintains that the documents, if made public, will clarify longstanding questions regarding Gandhi’s citizenship status.
This appeal comes after Shishir’s previous attempts to obtain similar details through the RTI mechanism. In the past, he had submitted a formal complaint alleging that Rahul Gandhi held British citizenship, citing records from the UK’s Companies House linked to the now-dissolved firm Backops Ltd. His earlier petition had sought clarification from the government on whether the documents referenced at the time indicated dual citizenship, which is prohibited under Indian law.
Although earlier RTI requests were rejected on grounds of privacy and national interest, Shishir has maintained that citizenship-related records of an elected representative fall within the ambit of public scrutiny. His latest appeal asks the CIC to direct the MHA to release any communication exchanged with UK authorities and provide clarity on whether the British government ever issued travel or identity documents to the Congress leader.
S Vignesh Shishir, had earlier filed an RTI Application seeking Copy of the United Kingdom / British Passport of Rahul Gandhi and all details of the correspondences between the Government of India and Government of United Kingdom which has been carried out by Government of India based on the Orders of Allahabad High Court at Lucknow Bench in PIL No 831/ 2024.
Click here to download the detailed RTI
It may be recalled that Vignesh Shishir was summoned by the Enforcement Directorate under FEMA,1999 on September 3, 2025 in connection to Rahul Gandhi’s British Citizenship Case.
Wherein a marathon 12 hour recording of statement was conducted into all evidence provided by Vignesh Shishir by the Enforcement Directorate thus making him official witness and complainant before Enforcement Directorate in this case against Rahul Gandhi.
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 questions 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. Petitioner S Vignesh Shishir, a resident of Karnataka, 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.
The High Court’s involvement in this matter has been ongoing for several months. On December 19, 2024, a bench comprising Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Om Prakash Shukla instructed Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Suryabhan Pandey to obtain details from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) regarding the allegations.
Subsequently, the MHA’s Citizenship Wing dispatched a formal request to the British Government, via the Indian Embassy in London, seeking comprehensive details about Rahul Gandhi’s citizenship and passport.
The Union government, through the MHA, has repeatedly sought extensions to furnish a conclusive report, citing an “ongoing comprehensive investigation.” This delay had previously led the Lucknow bench to dismiss Shishir’s Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on May 14, 2025, observing that the petition could not remain pending indefinitely without a decisive report from the Centre. At that time, the court had granted the petitioner the liberty to pursue other legal avenues if necessary and directed that any report received from the MHA be shared with the petitioner and filed in court.
It is this very provision that allowed S. Vignesh Shishir to file the current review petition. According to Shishir, the UK Government has now provided the requested citizenship information to Indian authorities, and he has been duly notified of this development. The submission of these new documents, alongside the alleged confirmation from British authorities, has provided the necessary grounds for the Allahabad High Court to reconsider the case.
The broader implications of this case are significant. Indian law prohibits dual citizenship, and if the allegations of British citizenship are proven, it could have serious consequences for Rahul Gandhi’s political career, including his eligibility to be a Member of Parliament. The petitioner has consistently argued that dual citizens are not eligible to contest elections in India, making this a pivotal legal challenge.
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