LUCKNOW – The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court is set to hold a high-stakes hearing today, Wednesday, May 6, regarding a fresh criminal petition seeking a CBI probe into the assets of Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, and his family members.
The matter, which alleges the possession of assets disproportionate to known sources of income, is scheduled to be heard in chambers at 2:25 PM.
Urgent Hearing Granted
A Division Bench comprising Justice Rajesh Singh Chauhan and Justice Zafar Ahmad accepted a request for an urgent hearing earlier this morning. The petitioner, S. Vignesh Shishir—a BJP worker from Karnataka—moved the court to hear the matter in chambers, citing the “extreme gravity” of the allegations, which he claims impact both national security and public interest.
The Core Allegations
The petition seeks the registration of a Regular Case (RC) and a detailed investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The primary allegations involve:
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Disproportionate Assets: Possession of wealth exceeding documented and legal sources of income.
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Broad Investigation: The plea requests coordinated action between multiple central agencies.
Key Respondents Impleaded
The petitioner has named a high-profile list of respondents to ensure a multi-agency approach to the investigation, including:
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CBI Director (New Delhi)
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Enforcement Directorate (ED)
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Income Tax Department
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Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
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Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO)
Context of Legal Challenges
This fresh plea comes at a time of heightened legal scrutiny for the Raebareli MP. Shishir, the petitioner, has been a persistent litigant against Gandhi; he was also behind a recent petition regarding Gandhi’s alleged foreign citizenship.
Legal experts suggest that the court’s decision to hear the matter in chambers—rather than in open court—indicates the sensitive nature of the evidence or the potential security implications involved in the discourse.
The outcome of today’s 2:25 PM hearing will determine if the High Court finds sufficient grounds to direct central agencies to initiate a preliminary inquiry into the Gandhi family’s finances.
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