ACCESSED: The U.K filings of 'Backops Limited' which list 'British National' Rahul Gandhi as Director and Secretary

In a sensational development following hot on the heels of the Home Ministry issuing notice to Congress president Rahul Gandhi over his citizenship and seeking a response within 15 days, Republic TV has accessed the underlying documents based on which the complaint had been filed.

In its notice, the Home Ministry had cited a complaint by BJP MP Dr Subramanian Swamy which made reference to a company - Backops Limited - registered in the UK in which Rahul Gandhi is named as director and secretary, and also, critically, a British citizen. Pertinently, Rahul Gandhi's birthdate is listed accurately, something Dr Swamy has emphasised.

Below are the relevant parts of the document, viz. the Memorandum of Association of Backops Limited:

It has been incorporated under the Companies Act 1985 (U.K)

The incorporation documents contain a declaration by Rahul Gandhi along with an address: 2 Frognal Way, London, London, UK, NW3 6XE

In the document that is titled 'First directors and secretary and intended situation of registered office:

The company's proposed registered address is: 51 Southgate Street, Winchester, SO23 9EH

The Company Secretary is named as Rahul Gandhi, with the same Frognal Way address listed.

While the above documents were filed in 2003, in 2005, a document with the header 'Change in the details of a Director of Secretary' was filed in which Rahul Gandhi is listed to have changed his address to 51 Southgate Street, Winchester, SO23 9EH

THE BRITISH NATIONALITY 'CLINCHER': 

Next, in the company's annual returns filed in 2005 and 2006, in the presumed 'clincher', under a header 'Details of Officers of the Company', it lists the following details of 'Director 1':

Name: Rahul Gandhi
Date of Birth: 19/06/1970
Nationality: British
Occupation: Company director
Address: 2 Frognal Way, London, London, UK, NW3 6XE (in 2005)
    51 Southgate Street, Winchester, SO23 9EH (in 2006)

Ulrik McKnight was the other shareholder in the company:

 

Finally, it lists that the company in question, Backops Limited, was dissolved in 2009.

The documents were sent to Home Minister Rajnath Singh along with a complaint letter by Dr Swamy in September 2017. The letter has also been accessed.

On Tuesday, the Home Ministry issued a notice to the Congress president citing the complaint and asked him to reply within two weeks. Here is the Home Ministry's letter:

The question over Rahul Gandhi's citizenship had also come up less than two weeks ago as an independent candidate contesting the Lok Sabha elections in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh named Dhruv Lal had complained alleging that details in Rahul Gandhi's election affidavit were incorrect. The complaint cited the Backops Limited declaration on his nationality being British, as well as purported discrepancies in his educational qualifications which also highlight Rahul Gandhi's name allegedly being 'Raul Vinci'. 

Speaking to Republic TV on why the MHA notice had come despite the returning officer who scrutinised the case giving Rahul Gandhi a clean chit in the matter, Dr Swamy put forth that the officer had cited that it was a matter for the Home Ministero to deal with as it was about citizenship.