Sonia Gandhi Voter List Case: Delhi Court Allows Complainant to Submit Additional Documents, Next Hearing on November 18

November 6, 2026

New Delhi: A Delhi court on Friday permitted the complainant in a case alleging the premature inclusion of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi in the electoral rolls before becoming an Indian citizen to file more documents.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Vinod Joshi of the Rouse Avenue Court allowed complainant Advocate Vikas Tripathi to file more documents and has posted the next hearing on November 18.

The case alleges Sonia Gandhi’s name was added to electoral rolls in 1980 despite her not becoming an Indian citizen until April 1983. Counsel for Tripathi said more time was required to file documents supporting the allegations.

The case came up for re-hearing after directions were issued by a sessions court to firstly quash an earlier order dismissing the case.

Sonia Gandhi Electoral Roll Case – Why was the order quashed?

The case was taken up by the sessions court after Tripathi filed a revision petition against the order of the ACJM in 2025 dismissing directions to register an FIR against Sonia Gandhi.

On September 21, Special Judge Vishal Gogne who handles cases of MPs/MLAs allowed Tripathi’s revision petition and remanded the matter to the magistrate.

The sessions court said that the magistrate had dismissed the case based on a photocopied unverified document. It said that the previous order was a “non speaking order”.

The sessions court said the previous order did not clearly show if any cognisable offence was revealed based on the allegations.

It also raised questions about some comments on the jurisdiction of the Central Government and Election Commission on citizenship.

Sonia Gandhi Voter Registration Allegations

Tripathi alleged Sonia Gandhi’s name was listed in electoral rolls in 1980. However, the name was removed in 1982 before being added again in 1983.

The complainant has alleged her name was added to the voter roll before becoming an Indian citizen in April 1983.

The sessions court said that the electoral rolls are for Indian citizens only and said the documents the complainant had submitted showed that Sonia Gandhi’s name was shown along with her address on Safdarjung Road, New Delhi.

However, this has not been proven.

Sessions Court Remands Matter

The sessions court said it could not act as the magistrate and rule on the matter.

It ordered that the magistrate should look into the matter, get a status report from the relevant police officer and make a reasoned order.

It said the previous order was too vague and therefore the matter should be looked into again.

The Rouse Avenue Court is now looking into the matter and the case has been adjourned until November 18. At this date, the complainant is expected to file more documents.

There is no ruling yet as to whether there are any merit in the allegations of electoral registration.