Rafale petition in SC LIVE updates: Documents stolen from MoD, submits AG

The Supreme Court Wednesday began hearing petitions seeking review of its December 14 verdict on the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets in an open court. There were two review petitions in the Rafale matter — one by former Union ministers Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie and advocate Prashant Bhushan, and the other by AAP MP Sanjay Singh.

A bench comprising of Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and K M Joseph had on December 14 dismissed petitions seeking a court-monitored probe into the purchase of the jets from France, finding “no occasion to doubt the (decision-making) process” leading to the award of the contract, and said there was no material to show that the government had favoured anyone commercially.

Highlights of SC hearing so far:

— Investigation underway on documents relating to Rafale deal being stolen: AG in SC.

— AG K K Venugopal says documents relied upon by advocate Prashant Bhushan stolen from Defence ministry.

— Critical facts on Rafale suppressed when petition for lodging FIR and investigation filed: Prashant Bhushan to SC.

— CJI says hearing advocate Prashant Bhushan does not mean SC taking on record documents on Rafale deal.

— SC would not have dismissed plea for FIR and probe into Rafale deal had there not been suppression of facts: Prashant Bhushan to apex court.

— Those who put documents on Rafale deal in public domain guilty under Official Secrets Act and contempt of court: AG in SC.

Catch LIVE updates on SC Rafale hearing