ED summons BJP worker who accused Rahul Gandhi of holding UK citizenship

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Karnataka BJP worker S Vignesh Shishir, who recently filed a petition in the Allahabad High Court alleging that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is a British citizen, official sources said on Saturday.

Shishir has been asked to appear before the ED on September 9 with all relevant documents and evidence, under provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). The agency is currently conducting a probe into the allegations, sources added.

FEMA allows the ED to investigate suspected violations of foreign exchange laws by individuals or entities. When asked for comment on the summons, the Congress party declined to respond.

In his Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the Allahabad High Court, Shishir claimed he possessed documents and emails from the British government suggesting that Rahul Gandhi holds British citizenship. He argued this would make Gandhi, currently the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, ineligible to contest elections in India.

On August 30, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court ordered the Union government to provide 24/7 security to Shishir. The order came in response to a writ petition filed by him, citing security concerns.

The bench, comprising Justices Sangeeta Chandra and B. R. Singh, noted in its interim order that Shishir had been pursuing cases against a prominent political figure and had reported receiving threats. The court also observed that he had been summoned by police in Raebareli district as part of an ongoing investigation.

Shishir informed the court that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been looking into his complaint since June 2024. He claimed to have appeared before the agency multiple times in Delhi, submitting evidence related to his allegations.

During an earlier hearing, the central government told the court it had officially contacted the UK government for clarification regarding Gandhi's citizenship status. The high court has scheduled the next hearing for October 9.

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