Facing Threats For Case Against Powerful Individual: Allahabad High Court Orders Security Protection To Man Who Questioned Rahul Gandhi's Citizenship

The Allahabad High Court has directed the Central Government to provide personal security, on interim basis, to man raising questions on Leader Of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi's citizenship observing that he is receiving those threats because of challenging a "powerful person".

The Court was considering a Writ Petition seeking direction to Respondents to immediately provide Y-Plus Category Security cover from Central Armed Police Force to the Petitioner on All India Basis, including armed Personal Security Officers (PSOs), escort protection, and round-the-clock surveillance.

The division bench of Justice Sangeeta Chandra and Justice Brij Raj Singh observed, "Having gone through the contents of the writ petition and the annexures thereto, we are, prima facie, satisfied that the matter requires consideration as the petitioner has been pursuing his cases against a very powerful individual and is facing constant threats and has to appear before the Investigating Officer at Police Station Kotwali, District Raebareli in pursuance of notice issued to him."

The Petitioner appeared In Person while the Respondent was represented by Assistant Solicitor General of India.

The Petitioner stated that he has submitted a complaint to the Central Bureau of Investigation, Special Crime Branch, Lucknow in the month of June, 2024 investigation of which has been transferred to the Anti Corruption-II Branch, Anti Corruption Headquarter Zone, New Delhi against Shri Rahul Gandhi Member of Parliament, Raebareli Constituency, Uttar Pradesh and Leader of the Opposition.

He stated that he has appeared in person before the Investigating Officer of the C.B.I., Anti Corruption-II Branch, New Delhi on multiple occasions and submitted his statement and additional information, evidences, documents, photographs and videos, other materials and correspondences with the Government of United Kindom clearly proving the British citizenship of Shri Rahul Gandhi. The Petitioner disclosed the details of the Company named as M/s Backops Limited incorporated on 21.08.2003 in the United Kindom, where he has mentioned his address as 2, Frongal Way, London, U.K. NW3 6XE and his nationality as British, his occupation as Director of the Company.

It was argued that he has assisted the Government of India’s investigating and intelligence agencies in several cases relating to income tax evasion, money laundering, left wing extremism in LWE areas, foreign funding in N.G.Os, election financing cases, benami transactions, terror financing, corruption cases and is now being threatened only because he has filed public interest litigation against Shri Rahul Gandhi praying for a writ of quo warranto on the ground that Shri Rahul Gandhi is a British citizen and hiding his true identity has contested Lok Sabha elections.

It was further submitted that since the Petitioner is pursuing his cases against Shri Rahul Gandhi and Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, he is receiving threats and facing coercion everyday. Having filed representations to the respondents for grant of central security, which have gone unheeded, the Petitioner had also approached to the Office of the Prime Minister and the Office of the Prime Minister referred the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation as has been informed to him in writing on his application seeking information under the Right to Information Act. The Office of the Prime Minister had written to the D.I.G./Internal Security Division, Ministry of Home Affairs forwarding his Application. However, nothing was done in the matter and therefore, he was forced to approach the Court by filing this Writ Petition.

"We, as an interim measure, direct the respondent no.1 to provide the facility of one Personal Security Officer (P.S.O.) of Central Armed Police Forces round-o-clock forthwith to the petitioner", the Court observed.

The matter was posted for October 09, 2025.

Cause Title: S Vignesh Shishir vs. Union Of India

Appearances:

Petitioner- In Person

Respondent- Assistant Solicitor General of India, Central Standing Counsel

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