The Rouse Avenue Court has granted additional time to Congress leader Sonia Gandhi to file her reply in a criminal revision petition challenging the dismissal of a complaint regarding her alleged inclusion in electoral rolls before acquiring Indian citizenship. Senior advocate R S Cheema, representing Gandhi, requested the extension, citing the age of the records involved. Special Judge Vishal Gogne adjourned the matter to February 7 for further proceedings.

The revision petition, filed by advocate Vikas Tripathi, alleges irregularities in the entry of Sonia Gandhi's name in the 1980-81 voter lists of the New Delhi constituency, prior to her obtaining Indian citizenship on April 30, 1983. Tripathi claims the name was added in 1980, deleted subsequently, and re-entered in 1983 based on an application, potentially involving forged documents in violation of the Representation of the People Act, which restricts voter enrollment to Indian citizens.

In December, the Sessions Court issued notices to Gandhi and the state after preliminary arguments by senior advocate Pavan Narang on behalf of Tripathi. Narang presented attested copies from the Election Commission, arguing that the matter required reconsideration due to evidence of procedural violations predating her citizenship.

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A lower court had previously dismissed Tripathi's original complaint in September, ruling it lacked merit as it relied on uncertified documents and that citizenship and electoral roll disputes fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the central government and the Election Commission, not criminal courts.

The case continues to draw attention amid ongoing political debates over historical electoral practices, with the court summoning trial records for comprehensive review while balancing claims of irregularity against established jurisdictional limits.

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