# Delhi court sets aside order refusing Sonia Gandhi voter roll probe

2026-09-21T22:39:34+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 3 independent outlets

A Delhi court on Monday set aside a magistrate's order that had refused to probe allegations that Congress leader Sonia Gandhi's name was included in the electoral roll three years before she acquired Indian citizenship in 1983. Special Judge Vishal Gogne quashed the September 2025 magistrate's order as "non-speaking" and non-compliant with Section 175(3) of the BNSS, which requires hearing the police officer and calling a status report before dismissing a complaint. The court said the magistrate did not consider whether the complaint by advocate Vikas Tripathi disclosed a cognisable offence, but instead digressed on citizenship and the Election Commission's powers. The judge found the magistrate's reasoning "perverse and improper" and remanded the matter for a fresh reasoned order after hearing the complainant and the police officer. The complaint alleges that Gandhi's name was unlawfully entered in the New Delhi parliamentary constituency electoral roll in 1980, deleted in 1982, and re-entered in 1983, all before her citizenship grant on April 30, 1983. The next hearing is on September 29.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

Greater Kashmir and The Hindu both report the court's procedural ruling neutrally, leading with the judge setting aside the magistrate's order as non-speaking and non-compliant with Section 175(3) BNSS. Times of India similarly frames the ruling as a legal rebuke, highlighting the judge's observation that the order suffered manifest errors. All three sources omit the political implications or the opposition's response, staying strictly on the court's direction for a fresh hearing. The key date to track is September 29, when the magistrate must pass a reasoned order after hearing the police and the complainant.

## Coverage

- greaterkashmir.com (neutral report) <https://www.greaterkashmir.com/national/delhi-court-sets-aside-acjm-order-refusing-probe-in-sonia-gandhis-pre-citizenship-electoral-entry-12561062>
  Leads with legal procedural finding for the judge's order
- thehindu.com (neutral report) <https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/delhi-court-sets-aside-magistrate-order-refusing-probe-in-sonia-gandhis-pre-citizenship-electoral-entry/article71490940.ece>
  Frames as court allowing revision plea, blank on case merits
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/court-junks-rejection-of-petition-to-probe-sonia-voter-roll-entry/articleshow/134399435.cms>
  Leads with court junking rejection, emphasises judicial error

Tags: Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, Delhi court, Sonia Gandhi, Vikas Tripathi, Vishal Gogne
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Cite: https://indianopinion.org/delhi-court-orders-fresh-hearing-on-sonia-gandhi-voter-roll-case/#story-in-brief