The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to allow an urgent hearing on a petition seeking its direction to the Central Bureau of Investigation to register a case against Rahul Gandhi in the citizenship row.

The plea, registered on Monday, sought the top court's directive to the CBI to register a case against the Congress vice-president for allegedly declaring himself a British national.

Recently, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy had alleged that Rahul had called himself a British national before the UK company law authorities in connection with the merger of a firm.

Last week, Swamy, in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had claimed that Rahul had declared himself as a British national in the annual return of Backops Limited in Britain. The company was integrated in 2003 and dissolved in 2009.

Swamy's letter to Modi said, "Gandhi has given his date of birth correctly but has declared himself to be of British nationality with a UK address." It said the Congress leader has "prima facie, committed an unconstitutional act and therefore be liable to be stripped of his citizenship and membership of the Lok Sabha."

Breaking his silence on Swamy's accusations last week, Rahul had dared PM Modi to act on them. Rahul had said, "They are using their chamchas to throw dirt at me. I challenge the Prime Minister... show your 56-inch chest and use all the agencies available with the government to probe me for six months. And lock me up if I am found guilty."