New allegations have surfaced against Congress veteran Sonia Gandhi, accusing her of being listed as a voter three years before she officially became an Indian citizen. A criminal complaint has been filed in Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court, claiming her name appeared on the New Delhi constituency voter rolls in 1980, even though she was granted Indian citizenship only in April 1983. The case is set for a crucial hearing on September 10.

Details of the Petition

The petition urges the registration of an FIR against the former Congress president, alleging the use of forged documents for voter enrolment. Senior advocate Pavan Narang informed Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Vaibhav Chaurasia that Gandhi’s name was added in 1980, deleted in 1982 after objections, and restored in 1983. This sequence, he argued, casts serious doubts on the legality of the process.

Questions on Electoral Integrity

Narang questioned how a non-citizen could be included in India’s voter list. He stressed that Sonia Gandhi, an Italian citizen by birth, was officially made an Indian citizen only on April 30, 1983. Thus, her 1980 voter registration potentially violates Indian electoral laws and raises issues of cheating and misrepresentation.

Political Reactions

The allegations have triggered a political storm. BJP leaders, including Anurag Thakur and Amit Malviya, accused Congress of engaging in election fraud. In response, Congress MP Tariq Anwar defended Gandhi, stating that it was the Election Commission’s decision, not a personal request from her, that led to her inclusion in the rolls. He challenged the BJP to provide concrete proof instead of making political accusations.

Court Hearing Ahead

The court has not yet issued formal notices to Sonia Gandhi or the Delhi Police, fueling speculation about the case’s trajectory. Analysts suggest this could be part of a larger political strategy to keep Congress under pressure, especially amid ongoing allegations against the ruling party itself. The upcoming September 10 hearing will determine whether the case escalates into legal consequences or fades as a political manoeuvre.

Broader Implications

The controversy has reignited debates over the integrity of India’s electoral system, with critics warning that such irregularities damage public trust. For now, all eyes remain on the Rouse Avenue Court, where the next decision could either deepen the storm or draw a close to this decades-old dispute.

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