Courts Quash ‘British Citizen’ Claim Against Rahul Gandhi, While Fresh FIR Filed In Haldwani Over Dalit Issue: Congress Calls Cases Politically Motivated
SUNIL NEGI / New Delhi, 3 Sept 2026
In a major relief to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, the Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court has dismissed the petition alleging that Rahul Gandhi is a British citizen, after the petitioner failed to furnish any credible evidence.
According to a news report The Hindu dated 31 Aug 2026, a Division Bench of Justice Shekhar B. Saraf and Justice Abdhesh Kumar Chaudhary permitted petitioner-in-person Ashok Pandey to withdraw his writ petition.
The petitioner had alleged that Gandhi incorporated UK-based M/s Backops Ltd in 2003 and declared himself a British national as Director. The Court observed his initial arguments appeared “very attractive” and capable of having “far-reaching consequences”, but: “When he was asked as to what the basis of his aforesaid submission was, the petitioner could not show a single document relating to the formation of the company or records from the Registrar of Companies of Britain or any declaration to the effect that Rahul Gandhi @ Raul Vinci has declared himself to be a British Citizen.
The only document relied upon is some alleged letter of confirmation issued by University of Cambridge certifying study of one Raul Vinci, which does not in any manner prove allegations,” the court noted.
This is the second blow to the citizenship row.
In April 2026, another bench of Justice Subhash Vidyarthi had ordered FIR against Rahul Gandhi on plea of Karnataka BJP worker S. Vignesh Shishir.
However next day on 19 April, the same bench stayed its own order, saying notice to Rahul Gandhi is mandatory before ordering investigation.
Similar petitions have been filed since 2015 and earlier in 2019 MHA notice based on Subramanian Swamy complaint was also closed.
Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand Police has registered an FIR against Rahul Gandhi at Haldwani Kotwali on 30 Aug 2026 under BNS Sections 196, 299 and SC/ST Act Section 3(1)(q).
The controversy began after Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, a Dalit leader, addressed a Vijay Shankhnaad Rally at Ramlila Maidan, Haldwani on 8 Aug. On 11 Aug, members of Shri Ram Sena Dharmarth Seva Nyas allegedly conducted a ‘Shuddhikaran Havan’ with Gangajal to purify the ground, which Congress termed as untouchability and anti-Dalit act.
On 29 Aug, Rahul Gandhi at Indira Bhawan press conference demanded PM Modi order FIR under SC/ST Act against those who did purification, saying “This is a crime under Constitution, only BJP-RSS mindset does this.”
Next day, complainant Amit Kumar, 26, resident of Jawahar Nagar, claiming to be Valmiki community member and associated with same Sena, filed counter complaint alleging Rahul Gandhi hurt Dalit sentiments by giving caste angle to a cleanliness drive, without verification, and that Valmiki members themselves participated in cleaning.
Nainital SSP Manjunath TC confirmed FIR and said probe is entrusted to CO Amit Kumar Saini.
Congress Vice President Suryakant Dhasmana said, “We have been demanding FIR against organisers of purification since day one, nothing was done. Now one person makes baseless allegations and FIR against LoP is filed immediately.”
Congress said all these cases – from British citizenship to Haldwani – are politically motivated, filed on biased, false and fictitious grounds to harass Rahul Gandhi and denigrate Congress party’s image as he is vociferous on people-centric issues like caste discrimination, while courts are repeatedly exposing lack of evidence.
