Social activist alleges negligence in Rahul Gandhi’s security during U.P. court visit, seeks probe

Alleging a complete breakdown of law and order and negligence in the security of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during his recent court visit in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh-based social activist and former Indian Police Service officer Amitabh Thakur on Wednesday (July 16, 2025) demanded a high-level inquiry and fixing responsibility over the issue.

In a letter addressed to the Union Home Minister, the Chief Justice of India and the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr. Thakur said Mr. Gandhi was among the highest threat perception leaders in India and was given Z-plus security by the Home Ministry.

On July 15, during his appearance in the MP/MLA Magistrate Court in Lucknow, there was not only a complete breakdown of law and order inside the courtroom but also massive bungling and compromise with his security when security personnel allowed hundreds of persons to enter the courtroom. People were present everywhere around Mr. Gandhi. Even the security failed to maintain the dignity of the court.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Thakur, a former 1992 batch IPS officer, said, “Two family members of Mr. Gandhi, including his father, have been assassinated due to security lapse. In Lucknow, Mr. Gandhi’s security was compromised for more than three hours.”

Multiple videos of huge crowd inside the courtroom with Mr. Gandhi and within court premises went viral, with people even taking selfies. 

The Congress said the authorities should look into the matter. “I was not present there, but the security of Rahul ji, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, is the responsibility of the Home Ministry and the State government. Any breakdown in security is not acceptable,” said Imran Masood, Congress MP. 

On July 15, Mr. Gandhi appeared before the MP/MLA Special Court in Lucknow in connection with a case of allegedly making a defamatory statement against the Indian Armed Forces during his Bharat Jodo Yatra in 2022. The Congress leader, who surrendered in the court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Alok Verma, was granted bail after the court allowed his application.