New Delhi, 16 May (H.S.):

After the hearing in the voter list case against Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi was adjourned, petitioner advocate Vikas Tripathi has accused her of deliberately delaying the proceedings. He said Sonia Gandhi’s lawyers have been repeatedly citing lack of time to postpone arguments, thereby pushing the hearing further.

Speaking to reporters in the court premises, Advocate Vikas Tripathi said the court had directed him to file documents received from the Election Commission, and all such documents have been submitted before the court. Despite this, arguments from the opposition side did not take place. He alleged that the matter is being delayed by repeatedly seeking “date after date.”

He said Sonia Gandhi’s lawyers were not physically present in court today either and joined through video conferencing. The next hearing in the matter has now been fixed for July 4.

Tripathi said arguments from the opposite side have been getting deferred repeatedly. He said he is present in court and has filed the required documents, but the other side is not proceeding with its arguments. He described this as a strategy to delay the hearing.

It is noteworthy that the hearing in the Sessions Court at Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi on a plea seeking an FIR in the alleged 1980 voter list case involving Sonia Gandhi was adjourned on Saturday. Special Judge Vishal Gogne has fixed the next hearing for July 4.

A report from the Election Commission was submitted in court on behalf of the petitioner. Earlier, on April 18, the court had directed both sides to file written submissions.

Advocate Vikas Tripathi has challenged in the Sessions Court the Magistrate Court’s order rejecting the plea for registration of an FIR.

On December 9, 2025, the court had issued notices to Sonia Gandhi and the Delhi Police.

The petition alleges that Sonia Gandhi applied for Indian citizenship in April 1983. It claims that, to get her name entered in the voter list in 1980, forged documents may have been used, which would amount to a cognisable offence. The petition seeks a court order directing the registration of an FIR against Sonia Gandhi.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar