Rahul Gandhi Citizenship Row: SC Likely to Hear Plea Seeking His Disqualification From Contesting Lok Sabha Elections
The matter had earlier been raised before the apex court in 2015, when the then Chief Justice of India, HL Dattu, dismissed the petition questioning Gandhi's nationality by calling it 'frivolous'
New Delhi, May 2: Amid the ongoing row over the citizenship of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, the Supreme Court is likely to hear a petition seeking to disqualify the Gandhi scion from contesting elections over his nationality. The development comes a couple of days after the Union Home Ministry sent a notice to Gandhi, asking him to "clear the air" over his citizenship. Congress Releases Documents Showing Rahul Gandhi Registered as 'Indian' Citizen Before UK Authorities
The plea could be admitted by the bench next week, The Indian Express reported. As per the law, a person who is not an Indian citizen cannot vote or contest elections in India. Priyanka Gandhi on Rahul Gandhi's Citizenship Row: 'Kya Bakwas Hai?'
The petitioner reportedly wants the judiciary to bar the Congress chief from contesting polls till his nationality is proven to be Indian.
The Home Ministry notice to Gandhi was based on a presentation by BJP MP Subramanian Swamy, who submitted purported documents of incorporation of Backops, a company registered in the United Kingdom and lists the Congress chief among its directors.
The papers submitted by Swamy shows Gandhi registering himself as a British citizen. However, a copy of the incorporation document of Backops, put in public domain by the Congress, shows the party president registering himself as an Indian national.
Documents Released by Congress:
The matter had earlier been raised before the apex court in 2015, when the then Chief Justice of India, HL Dattu, dismissed the petition questioning Gandhi's nationality by calling it "frivolous".
The Parliamentary Ethics committee had also raised the matter. Gandhi, while deposing before the same, had presented documents to counter Swamy's allegations.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 02, 2019 04:42 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).