Allahabad High Court reserves verdict on Rahul Gandhi's plea

The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday (September 3, 2025) reserved its verdict over a special court’s order directing a magisterial court to consider the plea for an FIR against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for a statement he made in the U.S.

Justice Sameer Jain, acting on Mr. Gandhi’s criminal revision, said the special court’s order will be kept in abeyance.

One Nageshwar Mishra from Varanasi sought the magisterial court’s direction to register an FIR against Mr. Gandhi, stating that during an event in September 2024, Mr. Gandhi allegedly made derogatory remarks about the environment in India not being favourable for Sikhs.

Mr. Mishra alleged his statement was provocative and divisive. The magisterial court, however, rejected the plea on November 28 last year, stating that the speech was made in the U.S. and therefore the issue fell beyond its jurisdiction.

Mr. Mishra subsequently challenged the order before a revisional court, which on July 21 allowed it and directed the magisterial court to hear the matter afresh. He attempted to register an FIR against Mr. Gandhi at the Sarnath police station in Varanasi but failed.

Mr. Gandhi moved the High Court, and his counsel argued that the order of the Varanasi Court was wrong, illegal and without jurisdiction.