New Delhi – Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has strongly refuted allegations regarding her inclusion in the New Delhi voter list as early as 1980, dismissing a recent plea as "baseless and politically motivated". The plea questions the legitimacy of her presence on the electoral rolls prior to her acquisition of Indian citizenship in 1983.

Gandhi, in her response filed before the Rouse Avenue Court, described the application as an "abuse of the legal process" and asserted that the accusations lack both factual and legal grounding. She maintains that the petition is based on "incorrect, misleading, and speculative facts". Through her counsel, she has requested the court to dismiss the revision petition.

Gandhi argued that the lower court had correctly observed that matters concerning citizenship fall exclusively under the jurisdiction of the Central government. She further stated that issues related to voter lists and electoral disputes are solely under the authority of the Election Commission, and criminal courts do not have the power to interfere in such matters or encroach upon their jurisdiction.

Furthermore, Gandhi claimed that the complainant, Advocate Vikas Tripathi, failed to produce any credible documentary proof to substantiate the allegations. She emphasized that "no concrete documents or evidence have been provided to support the allegations made in the complaint" and that serious accusations were made recklessly based on assumptions, media reports, and personal presumptions rather than authentic records. According to Gandhi's response, no specific document has been identified as having been forged or falsified, and the allegations lack material particulars.

The Rouse Avenue Court had issued a notice to Sonia Gandhi and the Delhi Police regarding the revision plea challenging the magistrate's refusal to order an FIR against her. The complainant, Tripathi, claims that Gandhi's name appeared on the New Delhi electoral rolls in 1980, despite her obtaining citizenship in 1983. The magistrate had initially refused to order an FIR, stating that the accusations were based on an uncertified copy of the 1980 electoral rolls and that the court could not interfere with the Election Commission's domain.

The case is set to be heard on January 6, 2026. The allegations have sparked debates, with some questioning how an Italian citizen could have voted in Indian elections. However, Gandhi has clarified that her name was not on the voter list in 1980 and that she did not vote.