New Delhi, Sep 4 (IANS) A criminal complaint has been filed in a Delhi court against Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, alleging that her name was added to the voter list in 1980, three years before she officially became an Indian citizen in 1983.

The complainant claimed that Sonia Gandhi’s inclusion in the voter list before acquiring Indian citizenship points to the use of forged documents, which constitutes a cognisable offence.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Vaibhav Chaurasia of the Rouse Avenue Court on Thursday heard preliminary arguments in the complaint filed by one Vikas Tripathi and fixed 10th September as the next date of hearing.

Chaurasia heard preliminary arguments in the complaint filed by Vikas Tripathi and scheduled the next hearing for September 10.

Tripathi requested the Rouse Avenue Courts to issue directions to the police to register an FIR and investigate the matter.

The BJP has been alleging that Sonia Gandhi’s inclusion in the voter list before acquiring Indian citizenship constituted the original act of electoral fraud.

“She was listed as a voter in 1980 but only became a citizen in 1983. What greater theft than that?” questioned Rajasthan unit BJP president Madan Rathore.

Accusing Congress of making excuses when defeated, Rathore hit back at Congress accusations of vote manipulation by the BJP, calling them baseless.

“If we were involved in vote theft, how did leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Ashok Gehlot, Sachin Pilot, Tikaram Jully, and Govind Singh Dotasra win elections? Congress celebrates its wins but cries foul when defeated.”

He accused the Congress of manipulating voter lists over the years. “The voter list is revised regularly—names of new voters are added, deceased persons are removed. If someone relocates, their name is shifted accordingly. Yet Congress has consistently tampered with this process by inserting fake names.”

–IANS

pds/pgh