ED summons Karnataka BJP worker over Rahul Gandhi ‘British citizenship’ complaint

The Enforcement Directorate has summoned Karnataka BJP worker Vignesh Shishir, who recently filed a complaint alleging that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi holds British citizenship.

A senior ED official confirmed to The Tribune that Shishir has been asked to appear before the agency in New Delhi on September 9 and submit documents supporting his claims.

“I will be appearing before ED officers to submit all information available with me in this regard. Jai Hind,” Shishir said.

Parallel to the ED summons, Shishir has also been deposing before the Rae Bareli police in Uttar Pradesh. On August 19, the Kotwali Nagar police issued him a notice, seeking evidence to back his allegations.

The notice referred to Shishir’s claim that Gandhi had been contesting the Lok Sabha elections since 2003 while allegedly holding British citizenship and concealing it in his election affidavits.

“Today once again, on September 6, I appeared before the Investigating Officer at the Kotwali PS, Rae Bareli, and submitted additional information, evidence, videos, photos, documents and records related to Rahul Gandhi’s British citizenship case,” Shishir said.

The ED has directed Shishir to furnish whatever material he has as part of its inquiry under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), which deals with violations of foreign exchange laws by individuals and companies. Officials said a probe into the matter is underway.

Allegations about Gandhi’s dual citizenship have surfaced multiple times in the past, but have never been legally established. Both Gandhi and the Congress have consistently dismissed the charges as politically motivated attempts to discredit him.

Shishir has also filed a public interest litigation before the Allahabad High Court, claiming he possesses documents and emails from the British Government that purportedly prove Gandhi holds British citizenship, which he argues makes the Leader of the Opposition ineligible to contest elections in India.