New Delhi, April 18 (NationPress) A Delhi court has instructed Sonia Gandhi, the Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party, to submit her written arguments regarding a criminal revision petition that claims her name was fraudulently added to the electoral rolls prior to her obtaining Indian citizenship.

The Rouse Avenue Court has scheduled further hearings for May 16 and has directed both involved parties to submit their written arguments within one week.

During the proceedings, the complainant's attorney completed their oral arguments and requested permission to submit documents received from the Election Commission of India (ECI). The court granted this request and allowed the documents to be included in the record.

It was highlighted that the revision petition, filed by advocate Vikas Tripathi, does not aim to initiate a trial at this moment but seeks to direct the police to investigate the claims.

The counsel for the complainant asserted that when Sonia Gandhi's name was purportedly added to the voter list, she had not yet acquired Indian citizenship, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the inclusion, which may have relied on forged documents.

Meanwhile, Sonia Gandhi's attorney requested the opportunity to present additional submissions at the next hearing, which the court approved.

After considering the arguments, the court mandated both parties to file their written arguments within a week and set the matter for further deliberation on May 16.

In a ruling from December of the previous year, Special Judge (Prevention of Corruption Act) Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Court agreed to review the revision petition and issued a notice to both Sonia Gandhi and the Delhi Police, scheduling the matter for subsequent hearings.

Previously, a Magistrate Court had dismissed the complaint calling for the registration of an FIR, stating that the judiciary should not interfere in matters that fall under the jurisdiction of Constitutional authorities.

The court determined that such intervention is prohibited under Article 329 of the Constitution, which limits judicial involvement in electoral issues except through election petitions.

In opposition to the revision petition, Sonia Gandhi has characterized the allegations as "politically motivated," unfounded, and based on misleading information. She stated that matters related to citizenship are under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Central government, while disputes regarding electoral rolls are governed by the Election Commission of India.

She further contended that no credible evidence has been presented to support claims of forgery or fraud, labeling the proceedings as an abuse of legal processes. The situation has stirred political controversy, with BJP leaders accusing the Congress party of manipulating electoral lists historically, using Sonia Gandhi's case as a reference for alleged irregularities.

Conversely, the Congress party has rejected these accusations as "baseless" and retaliatory.