Rahul Gandhi Moves Supreme Court To Challenge Allahabad HC Directions In Assets Case

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has moved the Supreme Court against Allahabad High Court orders directing agencies to verify allegations that he holds assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

His petition is scheduled to come up on August 17 before a Bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant.

Case stems from BJP worker’s complaint

The Congress leader has challenged orders passed in connection with a complaint by Vignesh Shishir, a BJP worker from Karnataka, who alleged that Gandhi possesses disproportionate assets.

In May, the Allahabad High Court said that if the complaint had been received by the concerned agencies, the allegations should be verified according to law. It also said the CBI and Enforcement Directorate could take appropriate action if warranted.

During a July 20 hearing, the High Court expressed dissatisfaction with a CBI affidavit, saying it did not adequately comply with its earlier directions.

The court also took note of steps initiated by the ED and said the agency could proceed according to law if actionable information emerged during its verification or investigation.

Multiple departments asked to respond

The Allahabad High Court also directed the Department of Personnel and Training, Revenue Department, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Corporate Affairs and the Director of the Serious Fraud Investigation Office to respond to the allegations.

Gandhi has also filed a separate transfer petition in the Supreme Court, seeking to move the proceedings from the Allahabad High Court to the Delhi High Court.

The Allahabad High Court is scheduled to hear the matter next on August 20.