Delhi Court Reserves Order on Plea Seeking FIR Against Sonia Gandhi Over Alleged Electoral Roll Forgery

New Delhi, September 10, 2025 – A Delhi court has reserved its order on a criminal complaint seeking the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, accusing her of using forged documents to include her name in the electoral rolls three years before acquiring Indian citizenship.

The case, heard at Rouse Avenue Courts, stems from allegations that Gandhi’s name appeared on the New Delhi constituency’s voter list in 1980, despite her official naturalization as an Indian citizen occurring only on April 30, 1983. The complainant, advocate Vikas Tripathi, claims this discrepancy points to electoral fraud under Indian law, which restricts voter registration to citizens only.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Vaibhav Chaurasia reserved the order after reviewing a 230-page petition filed under Section 175(4) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which empowers magistrates to direct investigations into cognizable offenses. The court did not issue notices to Gandhi or the Delhi Police during the hearing but has indicated it will decide on directing an FIR or further probe.

Senior advocate Pavan Narang, representing Tripathi, argued that Gandhi’s name was added to the electoral rolls in 1980, removed in 1982 alongside that of her late brother-in-law Sanjay Gandhi, and reinstated in 1983 post-citizenship. “What documents were submitted to the Election Commission in 1980? This clearly indicates forgery and deception of a public authority,” Narang told the court, emphasizing that non-citizens are ineligible under Section 16(1)(a) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.

Tripathi, vice-president of the Central Delhi Bar Association, had previously approached Delhi Police without success, prompting the court filing. The petition demands an investigation into potential violations, including forgery and cheating, and a status report from the IP Estate police station.

Gandhi, an Italian-born former Congress president and current Rajya Sabha member, married Rajiv Gandhi in 1968 and has been a prominent figure in Indian politics. She applied for citizenship in April 1983 following her marriage. The allegations echo past controversies, including a 1985 Allahabad High Court case examining her citizenship during an election petition.

No response from Gandhi or the Congress party was immediately available. The BJP has historically raised questions about her citizenship, though the current plea is from a private complainant. The case highlights ongoing debates over electoral integrity and eligibility in India’s polarized political landscape.

The order’s outcome could prompt a formal police inquiry if approved, potentially reopening scrutiny on historical voter records.