Court reserves order on plea for FIR against Sonia over electoral roll entry

A Delhi court on Wednesday reserved its order on a petition seeking registration of an FIR against Congress leader Sonia Gandhi over allegations that her name appeared on the electoral roll before she acquired Indian citizenship.

The matter was heard by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vaibhav Chaurasia at Rouse Avenue Courts. The judge reserved the order after hearing arguments by senior advocate Pavan Narang, representing complainant Vikas Tripathi.

Tripathi alleged that Sonia’s name was included in the electoral roll of the New Delhi constituency in 1980, even though she was granted Indian citizenship only in April 1983. According to him, her name was first added in 1980, removed in 1982 and re-entered in 1983 after she became a citizen.

The complaint further claimed that the initial inclusion in 1980 could not have been possible without the use of forged or fabricated documents. On this basis, Tripathi sought directions for registration of an FIR, arguing that the case disclosed commission of a cognisable offence.

The court, however, did not issue notice either to Sonia or the Delhi Police at this stage. The order on the plea has been reserved and will be pronounced in due course.