Sonia Gandhi electoral roll row: Delhi Court sets aside magistrate order refusing probe

The row pertains to the allegation that Sonia Gandhi's name was included in the electoral roll three years before she acquired Indian citizenship in 1983.

The court posted the matter for further proceedings on September 29. File Photo: Wikimedia commons/World Economic Forum
2 min read  |  Published: 21 Sep 2026

New Delhi: A Delhi court on Monday allowed a revision plea challenging a magistrate's order dated September 11, 2025 that refused to probe the allegation that Congress leader Sonia Gandhi's name was included in the electoral roll three years before acquiring Indian citizenship in 1983.

Special Judge Vishal Gogne quashed the magisterial court's order as "non-speaking". The order had dismissed a complaint filed by Advocate Vikas Tripathi, vice-president of the Central Delhi Court Bar Association of the Rouse Avenue courts.

"The impugned order suffers from a manifest error in law on account of non-compliance with Section 175(3) of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), inter alia, not hearing the submissions of the police officer concerned and non-calling of a status report from the police station concerned," the judge said.

He said the "non-speaking" nature of the order was evident as the magistrate did not consider the twin options under law; directing registration of a First Information Report (FIR) or alternatively, conducting proceedings under BNSS.

The judge said that the magistrate, instead of considering the core aspect of whether the complaint disclosed commission of a cognisable offence, digressed towards the issue of citizenship.

The court remanded the matter back to the magistrate to pass a reasoned order after hearing fresh arguments.

The matter has been posted for further proceedings on September 29.

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