Priyanka Gandhi Defends Mother Against Voter List Allegations: "She Voted Only After Citizenship"

The matter has been scheduled for further hearing on January 6.

New Delhi:

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi firmly refuted allegations against her mother Sonia Gandhi regarding voter list inclusion before citizenship acquisition, describing the claims as "an absolute lie" during her interaction with reporters on Tuesday.

Priyanka Gandhi emphasized that the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chairperson Sonia Gandhi only exercised her voting rights after becoming an Indian citizen.

"They have no evidence whatsoever. This is completely false. She only voted after officially becoming a citizen of India. I don't understand their persistence in targeting her as she approaches 80 years of age. She has devoted her entire life to serving this nation. At her age, she deserves to be left in peace," Gandhi stated.

On Tuesday, the Sessions Court at Rouse Avenue issued a notice to Sonia Gandhi while reviewing a revision petition that challenges the Magistrate's September ruling which had dismissed a complaint about her alleged improper inclusion in the 1980-81 electoral rolls.

Sessions Judge Vishal Gogne issued this direction after hearing preliminary submissions from the revisionist's representatives.

Senior Advocate Pavan Narang, representing revisionist Vikas Tripathi, contended that the case warranted reconsideration as evidence suggested serious irregularities in how Sonia Gandhi's name was entered into the electoral roll prior to her Indian citizenship.

He claimed that "certain documents must have been forged and falsified to include her name in the 1980 electoral roll," highlighting that her name was subsequently removed and then re-entered in 1983 based on an application submitted in January 1983 - both instances allegedly occurring before she obtained citizenship.

Narang argued that the Representation of the People Act explicitly permits only Indian citizens to register as voters, thus raising questions that require judicial examination.

He added that while the initial complaint referenced an article containing electoral roll excerpts, the revisionist has now secured attested copies from the Election Commission to substantiate these claims.

After reviewing these submissions, Judge Gogne issued notices to both respondents, including Sonia Gandhi.

The prosecutor accepted the notice on behalf of the State. The Court also ordered that the Trial Court Record (TCR) be summoned for comprehensive assessment of the issues raised in the revision.

The case is now scheduled for continued examination on January 6, when the Sessions Court will further review the challenge to the Magistrate's dismissal of the complaint.

This revision petition originates from advocate Vikas Tripathi's complaint, which the Magistrate had rejected outright, determining it lacked legal foundation and relied merely on uncertified photocopies of 1980 electoral records. The Magistrate had also noted that citizenship and electoral roll matters fall exclusively under the Central Government and Election Commission of India's jurisdiction and cannot be addressed through criminal complaints.