NEW DELHI: The Special MP-MLA Court in Lucknow on January 14 completed full and final hearings in a criminal miscellaneous case seeking directions for registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in regard to his being a citizen of the United Kingdom. The court has set January 28, 2026, as the judgment date.
The case, now renumbered as Criminal Miscellaneous Case No. 31 of 2026, was earlier pending before the Special MP-MLA Court in Rae Bareli and was transferred to Lucknow following orders passed by the Hon’ble Allahabad High Court, Lucknow Bench.
The matter was heard by the Special MP-MLA Judge, 3rd Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM), Alok Verma. According to court records, the petitioner and complainant, S Vignesh Shishir, argued the case in person over eight consecutive days, delivering more than 20 hours of oral submissions.
During the hearings, the petitioner placed reliance on several landmark judgments of the Supreme Court of India. A total of 45 annexures, one sealed cover, and a plaint running into 310 pages were formally taken on record by the court for the purpose of adjudication.
After hearing the arguments at length, the Special MP-MLA Court reserved its order and scheduled January 28 for the final judgment.
The criminal miscellaneous case seeks court directions to register an FIR against Rahul Gandhi under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Sections 318, 335, 340, 236, 237, 61, 147, 148, 152, 238, 336(3), and 351. The petition also invokes Sections 3, 5, and 6 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923; Sections 12 and 13 of the Passports Act, 1967; and Sections 14(B) and 14(C) of the Foreigners Act, 1946.
The petitioner, Vignesh Shishir, had drawn attention due to the high-profile nature of the allegations and the involvement of a senior national political leader.
The criminal case concerns allegations regarding Rahul Gandhi’s British citizenship and seeks directions to register an FIR under multiple provisions of law, including the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, the Passports Act, 1946, the Foreigners Act, and the Official Secrets Act. The petitioner claims to possess documentary evidence obtained from UK authorities, including records from UK Visa and Immigration, the UK Home Office, and passport-related documents.
Vignesh Shishir has maintained that the case involves serious violations of Indian law and requires impartial adjudication, free from political pressure or intimidation. He contended before the High Court that holding the proceedings in Raebareli—Rahul Gandhi’s parliamentary constituency—posed an inherent risk to his safety and to the independence of the trial.
