The Opposition parties led by the Congress have alleged corruption in the Rafale fighter jet deal between India and France.
AGENCIES / NEW DELHI
The Supreme Court today reserved its order on pleas seeking court-monitored probe in the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph concluded the arguments advanced by various parties.
The petitioners have also sought registration of FIR in connection with the alleged irregularities in the deal.
Earlier in the day, the Apex Court refused to reveal the pricing details of the deal which have been submitted by the government in a sealed cover.
Centre defended the secrecy clause related to the pricing of the 36 Rafale fighter jets in the Court and said it cannot divulge details of the deal.
Attorney General KK Venugopal told the bench that these matters are for the experts to deal with. He said, the government has been saying that even Parliament has not been told about the complete cost of jets.
The top law officer said the Centre has given in a sealed cover the complete details of the Rafale jets, the weapons to be fitted on the aircraft and other requirements.
The Centre on Monday had submitted to the Apex Court in a sealed cover, the pricing details of the Rafale jets.
Defending the secrecy clause related to the pricing of the jets, Mr Venugopal said, the country’s adversaries may get advantages if the entire details on the pricing is disclosed.
Rafale fighter jets deal row in Supreme Court – UPDATES:
* The Air Marshal and Vice-Marshals can go back. It is a different war game here in court. You can go to the actual war rooms, says CJI Ranjan Gogoi after hearing senior Indian Air Force officials on the issue of Rafale deal.
* The more than 5-hour long marathon hearing has ended in the Supreme Court and it has reserved the order in the Rafale deal matter. The court today heard the Centre, the petitioners and the Indian Air Force in the case.
* The Centre tells the Supreme Court that there is no sovereign guarantee from the French government on the delivery of 36 Rafale jets, but there is a letter of comfort from the French Prime Minister.
* Supreme Court has asked Additional Secretary, the Defence Ministry, as to “why were the offset guidelines changed in 2015? What about the country’s interest? What if the offset partner doesn’t do any production?” AG Venugopal, meanwhile, says Dassault Aviation has not yet submitted details of the offset partner to the government.