Rahul Gandhi moves SC against Allahabad HC order on assets probe

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has approached the Supreme Court challenging an Allahabad High Court order directing the CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) to verify allegations of disproportionate assets against him.

According to the Supreme Court cause list, a bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana is likely to hear Gandhi's plea on August 17.

The Allahabad High Court's Lucknow bench, while hearing the matter on July 20, had expressed dissatisfaction with the CBI's response and directed a senior officer of the agency to personally file a fresh affidavit outlining the progress of the probe into the allegations against the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.


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The high court had also said that if, during its inquiry into the allegations, the ED comes across material or documents indicating any illegality, it would be free to proceed further in accordance with law.

The order came while the court was hearing a plea seeking a CBI and ED investigation into allegations of disproportionate assets against Gandhi.

The petition was filed by Karnataka resident S Vignesh Shishir, a BJP worker, whose criminal writ petition was heard in an in-chamber proceeding that lasted nearly two hours. Shishir had earlier filed pleas alleging that Gandhi holds dual citizenship.

The high court had observed that the affidavit submitted by the CBI did not comply with its earlier directions and failed to adequately explain the progress made on the complaint filed by the petitioner concerning Gandhi's assets.

It directed the joint director or head of the concerned zone at the CBI's Anti-Corruption headquarters in New Delhi to personally submit a fresh affidavit before the next hearing, detailing the progress in the matter.

The bench treated the case as part-heard and scheduled the next hearing for August 20.

The high court also gave the Union government four weeks to file detailed counter affidavits on behalf of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), the Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO).

It further directed that the complete case record remain in a sealed cover in the safe custody of the senior registrar, in line with its earlier orders.

The bench has been hearing the matter in-camera, with proceedings not being conducted in open court due to the sensitive nature of the case.