Rafale Verdict: Supreme Court rejects centre's objections on documents in Rafale deal case

The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected Centre's objections on documents in Rafale deal 'stolen' from the defence ministry as evidence in the Rafale fighter jet case. The top court dismissed Centre's preliminary objections seeking review of earlier judgment which gave clean chit to the Union Government in Rafale deal.

The Constitution bench headed by Chief Justic of India Ranjan Gogoi has dismissed and said that 'as far as the question of hearing of review plea on Rafale judgement is concerned, it will give a detailed hearing later on'.

In March, the government had reportedly asked the top court over the review pleas to be dismissed because they were based on files “stolen” from the Defence Ministry.

"Our argument was that because the documents relate to Defence you must examine them. You asked for this evidence & we have provided it. So Court has accepted our pleas & rejected the arguments of the Government," Arun Shourie, who filed review plea in Rafale deal verdict said.

The bench comprising CJI Ranjan Gogoi, Justices KM Joseph and SK Kaul said it would fix a new date for the hearing of the review petitions in Rafale deal case.

The Supreme Court allowed the admissibility of three documents in Rafale deal as evidence in re-examining the review petitions filed against the SC's December 14 judgement refusing to order probe in procuring 36 Rafale fighter jets from France.

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