The Top Court on Wednesday adjourned the hearing of Rafale Review Petitions to March 14 after hearing all the stakeholders in the case. The Top Court Bench led by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, Justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph told held a three-hour long hearing on the bunch of pleas filed against the Top Court’s December 14 Verdict that ruled out any investigation into Rafale Deal.
Rafale Jet deal case in Supreme Court has been adjourned till March 14 https://t.co/jUUrHIl5Yp
— ANI (@ANI) March 6, 2019
The Top Court deferred the hearing after Attorney General KK Venugopal told the Apex Court that the documents related to Rafale Jets Deal have been stolen from the Defence Ministry.
READ: Rafale Hearing in SC: ‘Some Documents related to Deal Stolen from Defence Ministry’ Centre tells Court
Attorney General KK Venugopal appearing for the Central Government asserted that “Certain Documents were stolen from the Defence Ministry either by public servants and an investigation on the matter is pending” He added ‘We are dealing with defence purchases which involve the security of the state. It is a very sensitive case”.
Attorney General further said that Defence Acquisition should not be examined by Judicially. He added that any probe be it CBI will lead to the huge damage to the Country.
Rafale Jet Deal case: CJI says, "Primary question is that should the court not look into the evidence or the document, if there is relevance or corruption?"AG Venugopal says, "It should not be looked into as it deals with defence and secrets."
— ANI (@ANI) March 6, 2019
Attorney General further said while referring to the news report published in The Hindu, “those published the report and the document should disclose his source to the court”.
Intensifying his arguments in the Top Court, Prashant Bhushan referred to a news report published by senior journalist N Ram, Attorney General KK Venugopal while opposing it said, that journalist write-up was based on the documents that are found missing and stolen. The Investigation on the matter is underway.
Venugopal added the first write up by the journalist featured in The Hindu Newspaper on February 8 and followed by a story that was aimed to influence the Court proceedings. While Prashant Bhushan argued that the Top Court had earlier would not have dismissed the plea and would have ordered a probe if the facts are not diluted.
While KK Venugopal sought dismissal of review petitions as they relied on the stolen documents.
READ: SC Refuses to Hear Review Petition Filed by AAP’s Sanjay Singh in Rafale Case; Says ‘Politician’s remarks Derogatory’
In another Development, Supreme Court refused to hear the review petition filed by Aam Aadmi Party Leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh against its December 14 verdict on the Rafale fighter jet deal. The Top Court said, Sanjay Singh, has made some “very, very derogatory statements” about the Judiciary.
The Supreme Court on December 14 rejected the Petition filed seeking a court-monitored CBI-led investigation into the Rafale deal involving ₹59,000 crores for the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets. A Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said that there is no reason to doubt the deal.
Several Review Petitions were filed against SC Verdict of December 14, and the Top Court is hearing those review petitions.
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