The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned S Vignesh Shishir, a Karnataka BJP worker, who has alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi holds British citizenship. Shishir has been asked to appear before the ED on September 9 with all the evidence and documents he has on the case. The ED is investigating the allegations under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). FEMA allows the ED to investigate suspected violations of foreign exchange laws by individuals or entities.

Shishir has also filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) before the Allahabad High Court, claiming he possesses documents and emails from the British Government that purportedly prove Gandhi holds British citizenship. He argues that this would make Gandhi, currently the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, ineligible to contest elections in India. The Allahabad High Court has mandated security for Shishir, acknowledging the sensitivity and potential repercussions of the case.

According to Shishir, on his complaint, moved in June 2024, a probe was underway by the CBI, and he claimed that he had appeared before the agency in Delhi on multiple occasions, furnishing evidence of Gandhi's alleged British citizenship. The Allahabad High Court has scheduled the next hearing for October 9. During an earlier hearing, the central government told the court it had officially contacted the UK government for clarification regarding Gandhi's citizenship status.

The Kotwali Nagar police issued Shishir a notice on August 19, seeking evidence to back his allegations. The notice referred to Shishir's claim that Gandhi had been contesting the Lok Sabha elections since 2003 while allegedly holding British citizenship and concealing it in his election affidavits.

Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party have consistently dismissed the charges as politically motivated attempts to discredit him. The Congress party declined to comment on the matter.