4 days ago
Delhi court defers Sonia Gandhi voter-list FIR plea order
A court is considering whether police should investigate a complaint involving Sonia Gandhi’s name on an old voter list.
The complaint says her name appeared before she became an Indian citizen in 1983.
The person who filed the complaint is Vikas Tripathi.
A lower court had already refused to order an FIR, which is a formal police case.
Tripathi challenged that decision in a higher court.
His lawyers say the voter-list entry may have involved false or forged documents.
Sonia Gandhi’s lawyers say the documents are not genuine and that the case is based on an improper search for evidence.
The court has postponed its decision until September 21.
The Delhi court deferred its order on a petition seeking an FIR against Sonia Gandhi until September 21.
Vikas Tripathi alleges that Gandhi’s name entered an electoral roll before she became an Indian citizen in 1983.
A magistrate court had earlier rejected Tripathi’s request to register an FIR, prompting his revision petition before the sessions court.
Gandhi’s lawyers argued that documents submitted by Tripathi were not genuine and that the case sought a fishing and roving inquiry.
Tripathi’s lawyers alleged that the voter-list entry could have involved a forged document or false declaration and required investigation.
- Who
- Vikas Tripathi has sought an FIR against Congress leader Sonia Gandhi; Gandhi’s lawyers oppose the request.
- What
- A Delhi court deferred its order on Tripathi’s revision petition challenging the refusal to register an FIR.
- Where
- The matter is before the Special Judge at Dwarka Court in New Delhi, following an earlier proceeding at Rouse Avenue Court.
- When
- The order is now scheduled for September 21; the court had previously reserved it on July 25 and listed it for August 29.
- Why
- Tripathi alleges that Sonia Gandhi’s name was included in an electoral roll before she became an Indian citizen in 1983 and seeks an investigation into alleged forgery or a false declaration.
Tripathi’s allegations
Sonia Gandhi’s defense
Voter-list inclusion
Tripathi’s allegations
Tripathi’s lawyers argue that a person’s name could not have been included in the voter list without Indian citizenship and say the circumstances require investigation.
Sonia Gandhi’s defense
Gandhi’s lawyers have argued that the case amounts to a fishing and roving inquiry and that the lower court correctly rejected it.
Documents and evidence
Tripathi’s allegations
Tripathi’s lawyers say they obtained attested copies of a relevant electoral-roll document from the Election Commission and want additional material placed on record.
Sonia Gandhi’s defense
Gandhi’s lawyers contend that documents submitted by Tripathi are not genuine.
Possible wrongdoing
Tripathi’s allegations
Tripathi’s counsel alleges that a false declaration or forged documents may have been used and seeks an FIR to investigate.
Sonia Gandhi’s defense
Gandhi’s defense disputes the basis for the requested investigation and has not accepted the allegations described in the petition.
Key facts
- Petitioner
- Vikas Tripathi
- Respondent
- Sonia Gandhi
- Current proceeding
- Revision petition seeking registration of an FIR
- Earlier decision
- A magistrate court dismissed Tripathi’s application for an FIR
- Allegation
- Gandhi’s name was included in a voter list before her Indian citizenship in 1983
- Next order date
- September 21
- Additional document
- Tripathi sought to submit a 1980 Election Commission report
Quotes
Counsel for the complainant
Lawyer representing complainant Vikas Tripathi
“This is a case of declaration made by a foreign citizen. We are able to show that a prima facie false declaration was made, and it needs to be investigated.”
theprint.in
“How will you bypass the issue that Sonia Gandhi became a voter prior to she became citizen of India in 1983?”
theprint.in
Sources
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