'Pursuing Cases Against Very Powerful Individual': Allahabad HC Orders Interim Security For Man Questioning Rahul Gandhi's Citizenship

The Allahabad High Court (Lucknow Bench) on Thursday directed the Union of India to immediately provide one Personal Security Officer (PSO) from the Central Armed Police Forces to a man who claimed constant threats on account of pursuing multiple cases against MP Priyanka Vadra and MP and Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, including questioning his citizenship. A Bench of Justice Sangeeta Chandra and Justice Brij Raj Singh passed the order while hearing S Vignesh Shishir, who claims to be a member of Bharatiya Janata Party's Karnataka State wing.On behalf of the Union, Deputy Solicitor General SB Pandey submitted that since the petitioner has received palpable threats, the Court may pass an appropriate order providing security for him to at least pursue his case without fear. For context, Shishir has filed multiple PILs before the Allahabad High Court on the issue of Rahul Gandhi's citizenship. Essentially, Shishir moved the HC seeking a writ of mandamus commanding the authorities to provide him with Y-Plus category security cover on an all-India basis, including armed PSOs, escort protection and round-the-clock surveillance. He also sought the constitution of a high-level threat assessment committee comprising senior officials from intelligence and security agencies. He argued that since he has been pursuing cases and filing complaints against Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, he is facing continuous threats and coercion. He submitted that he has filed several representations dated July 11, 2024 and July 20, 2025, seeking central security, which remained unanswered. He also submitted that he had lodged a complaint before the CBI Special Crime Branch, Lucknow, in June 2024, which was later transferred to the Anti-Corruption-II Branch, New Delhi, against Rahul Gandhi, wherein he had asserted that Gandhi was a British citizen and suppressed this fact while contesting elections. He also claimed to have produced documentary evidence, photographs, videos and correspondence with the Government of the United Kingdom before the CBI, including details of M/s Backops Limited, a company incorporated in the UK in 2003, where Rahul Gandhi allegedly declared his nationality as British. The petitioner also stated that he had filed objections against Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's candidature before the Returning Officer, Wayanad bye-election, and is presently preparing a writ of quo warranto against her as the sitting MP. He further claimed to have lodged a complaint with the Superintendent of Police, Raebareli, on July 26, 2024, seeking registration of an FIR against Rahul Gandhi under various provisions of the BNS and Section 12 of the Passports Act, 1967. Based on this complaint, Kotwali Police, Raebareli, issued him a notice dated August 19, 2025, to appear and produce documents regarding Rahul Gandhi's alleged British citizenship. Against this backdrop, he claimed that since he is arguing all these cases personally and appearing to tender evidence before several investigating agencies, he is facing constant life threats and fear of attacks and coercion and thus, he prayed for the security cover. On behalf of the Union, Deputy Solicitor General SB Pandey informed the Court considering the threats faced by the petitioner, an appropriate order for security could be passed to enable him to pursue his cases without fear. Court's Observations After hearing the petitioner and the Union of India, the Bench directed thus: “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 that the petitioner has been pursuing cases 'against a very powerful individual' and is facing 'constant threats' while being required to appear before investigating agencies. The Bench, prima facie, found that the matter required consideration. The Court directed the Union of India (respondent no.1) to provide the security immediately and listed the matter for further hearing on October 9, 2025. It also directed respondents to file a counter-affidavit, annexing the decision taken on the petitioner's representations that had been forwarded by the Prime Minister's Office to the Ministry of Home Affairs.Case title - S Vignesh Shishir vs. Union Of India Thru. Its Secy. Ministry Of Home Affairs New Delhi And 10 OthersClick Here To Read/Download Order

'Pursuing Cases Against Very Powerful Individual': Allahabad HC Orders Interim Security For Man Questioning Rahul Gandhi's Citizenship

Sparsh Upadhyay

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