The BJP on Thursday raised serious questions over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s foreign travel history, alleging a major mismatch between his declared income and the estimated cost of his overseas trips, and demanding full disclosure of funding sources and approvals.

At a press briefing at the BJP headquarters, party national spokesperson Sambit Patra claimed Rahul Gandhi undertook 54 foreign trips over the last 22 years, with a cumulative expenditure of around ₹60 crore. He argued that this figure does not align with Gandhi’s declared financial profile in election affidavits.

Patra said Gandhi’s declared assets and income figures, as submitted over the years, show a sharp gap when compared to the alleged spending on international travel. He also sought clarification on whether proper permissions and disclosures were made under legal and security protocols.

Raising questions over compliance, the BJP leader asked whether Gandhi had obtained mandatory prior approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) provisions, if any external funding was involved.

He further claimed that any undisclosed foreign funding or expenditure could fall under provisions of the Black Money Act, 2015, and questioned whether such details were reflected in income tax disclosures.

Patra also alleged that several of Gandhi’s overseas visits were not officially declared, referring to them as “mystery trips” and demanding clarity on who hosted or financed these travels.

The BJP spokesperson cited a letter reportedly sent by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, which allegedly flagged concerns over multiple foreign visits between December 2024 and September 2025.

According to Patra, the CRPF described six “undeclared foreign trips” as “extremely worrisome,” claiming they violated the “yellow book” guidelines associated with SPG-level security protocols.

He also referred to a recent alleged private visit to Muscat, Oman, on May 3, 2026, claiming no public itinerary or official disclosure was made regarding the trip, and questioning its purpose and host.

“If the Oman lead is substantiated, then it becomes the seventh entry in that pattern (of undisclosed foreign trips in violation of yellow book security protocol),” Patra said.

The BJP further questioned the intent behind Gandhi’s international visits, with Patra suggesting that the issue raises “serious national concerns” given his position as Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and his political ambitions.

He also warned that all such activities were being closely monitored and claimed the BJP had only released “a small part of the records,” suggesting more documents could follow.

The Congress party has not yet responded to the allegations.

With PTI inputs