The Allahabad high court has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to examine allegations that Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi possesses assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. The agencies have been asked to submit a progress report to the court by July 20.
The order was passed by the Lucknow bench of the high court while hearing a petition filed by Karnataka-based petitioner S Vignesh Shishir. The plea sought a court-monitored investigation into the alleged accumulation of disproportionate assets by Gandhi and his family.
“It is expected that if the complaint of the petitioner has been received, the allegations of the complaints may be verified as per law. It is needless
to say that the CBI or ED may take appropriate steps which are permissible under the law,” the court said.
Apart from the CBI and ED, the petition also named the Income Tax Department, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) as parties. The petitioner urged the court to direct registration of a regular case and initiation of a detailed probe into the allegations.
The matter was earlier listed before a division bench comprising Justices Rajesh Singh Chauhan and Jafir Ahmad. The petitioner had sought urgent hearing of the case in chambers, which the court allowed.
The development comes amid multiple legal proceedings involving Rahul Gandhi, including litigation linked to allegations regarding his citizenship status and ongoing proceedings in the National Herald case.
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