New Delhi, August 17, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Allahabad High Court to defer proceedings in a disproportionate assets case linked to Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and restrained the CBI and other authorities from submitting any report to the High Court in the matter.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana passed the directions while hearing a petition filed by the Congress MP challenging an Allahabad High Court order concerning allegations that he possessed assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
The Supreme Court also directed that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) should not submit any report to the High Court in connection with the proceedings.
The Allahabad High Court, in an order passed in May, had observed that if the concerned agencies had received the complaint, the allegations contained in it should be verified in accordance with law.
Rahul Gandhi approached the Supreme Court last week, challenging the Allahabad High Court’s directions to the CBI and ED to verify the allegations.
The Supreme Court, however, clarified that the CBI and ED remained free to take appropriate action if warranted under the applicable legal framework.
Chief Justice Surya Kant observed that agencies do not require prior court permission to act if they independently come to know of alleged disproportionate assets or other offences. At the same time, he said that when a court proposes to issue a direction, principles of natural justice are expected to be followed.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Rahul Gandhi, argued that the proceedings amounted to a “witch-hunt through a process not recognised by law”. He also questioned the locus standi and bona fides of the petitioner before the Allahabad High Court, alleging that the petitioner had repeatedly filed petitions against Rahul Gandhi.
The case originated from a complaint filed by Karnataka-based BJP worker S. Vignesh Shishir, who sought CBI and ED investigations into allegations that Rahul Gandhi possessed assets disproportionate to his income.
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