Delhi Court Dismisses Long-Standing Plea Against Sonia Gandhi, Citing 'Misuse of Law' and 'Gross Delay'

A Delhi court has decisively slammed the door shut on a long-standing and often controversial legal challenge against former Congress president Sonia Gandhi. The court, with no uncertain terms, dismissed a plea questioning her Indian citizenship and voter roll entry, branding the petition as a clear "misuse of law" and asserting a definitive lack of jurisdiction for a civil court to intervene in such matters.

The saga began with a persistent complaint filed by veteran politician Dr.

Subramanian Swamy. His plea alleged that Sonia Gandhi had fraudulently obtained Indian citizenship in 1983 and again in 2010. Furthermore, he claimed that she was not an Indian citizen when her name was initially added to the voter list in 1998, raising questions about her subsequent enrollment as a voter in 1999 and her tenure as a Member of Parliament.

However, the court, presided over by Metropolitan Magistrate Akansha Gupta, found no merit in revisiting the allegations.

The magistrate pointed out that Dr. Swamy had previously approached the Election Commission of India (ECI) with similar grievances. The ECI, after due consideration, had already dismissed his complaint in 2017, affirming that Sonia Gandhi had lawfully obtained Indian citizenship in 1983. The court unequivocally stated that the ECI, being the constitutional body empowered to address such issues, was the proper forum, not a civil court.

In a significant part of its ruling, the court highlighted that the plea was filed a staggering 25 years after her first citizenship grant, 13 years after the alleged second grant, and 24 years after her name was entered into the voter list.

This "gross delay" in pursuing the matter proved to be a critical factor in the court's decision. "Such a long delay itself disentitles the complainant from seeking relief from this court," Magistrate Gupta observed, emphasizing that legal remedies should be sought in a timely fashion.

Sonia Gandhi had applied for and was granted Indian citizenship in 1983.

She subsequently enrolled as a voter in 1999, contesting elections and serving as an MP. The court's dismissal reinforces the legal validity of these historical facts and the earlier findings of the Election Commission, effectively bringing a prolonged and politically charged legal battle to a conclusive end.