Rafale Case LIVE: How Did Govt Know in Advance that CAG Would Redact Pricing Details, Asks Prashant Bhushan

Bhushan further claims that 3 out of the 7 member International Negotiating Team (INT) had also raised objections to the inflated pricing of the Rafale aircrafts.

Bhushan adds that doing away with the anti-Corruption clauses and concealment of this fact from this Court is by itself a sufficient ground to order a criminal investigation into the Rafale deal.

"8 critical clauses of standard defence procurements procedure were dropped for  Rafale deal in a meeting of CCS that happened in Sep '18. Even clauses regarding anti-corruption were dropped. And it is shocking the Govt concealed this piece of information from the court," contends Bhushan

Bhushan contends that the Supreme Court didn't deal with his prayer of investigation but proceeded on the basis that they were seeking cancellation of the contract. He further points out the error in the Dec verdict wherein a non-existent CAG report was referred to.

SC Commences Hearing | The bench of CJI Gogoi, Justices Kaul and Joseph commence hearing of the Rafale review petition and the contempt petition against Rahul Gandhi. Prashant Bhushan begins arguing on the main review petitions. Arun Shourie will argue on the perjury application against the Govt.

The government had in March used the argument to demand that the review petitions be dismissed. On April 10, however, the Supreme Court said it would go ahead with the hearings even if the pleas were based on what the government said were stolen and classified documents.

In its affidavit, the Centre said the allegations of making false statements and suppressing facts in court were “completely false” and “baseless”. The government reiterated its claim that the petitioners were relying on “selective leaks” of Defence Ministry files in the media, and that they present an “incomplete picture”. The review pleas have been filed by advocate Prashant Bhushan and former Union ministers Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie among others.

Perjury Plea by Petitioners 'Completely Misconceived', Centre Tells SC | On Thursday, the Centre filed a reply affidavit in the top court, saying that the demand for perjury proceedings against some public servants in the case was misconceived. The review petitions have sought perjury action against unknown government officials for allegedly misleading the court during hearings last year.

SC to Hear Pleas Seeking Review of its Verdict on Rafale Deal | The Supreme Court would hear together today the the review petition pertaining to the SC taking a re-look at an earlier verdict clearing the Rafale aircraft deal with French aviation firm Dassault, along with the contempt case concerns an erroneous claim by Mr Gandhi at an election rally that the top court supports the Congress slogan "Chowkidar Chor Hai".

SC Satisfied with Mediation Process | While the Muslim parties say that they are open to all possibilities of mediation, the Nirmohi Akhara has complained that there has not been any mutual discussion among the parties. However, the Supreme Court said that it is satisfied and optimistic with the way the Committee has proceeded with the politically sensitive Ayodhya land dispute case. The bench has concluded the hearing.

The three-member panel comprising FMI Kallifulla,  Sri Sri Ravishankar and Sriram Panchu submitted a report on the mediation process of the land dispute case in Ayodhya on May 7.

SC Extends Time Till August 15 | The three-member mediating Committee has sought an extension of time until August 15 to find an amicable and lasting solution, which the five-member bench has granted.

SC Bench Assembles | The five-member Supreme Court Constitution bench has assembled to hear the Ram janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case. 

8 Years Ago, SC Had Refused to Put Ayodhya Verdict on Hold for Mediation | Eight years ago, in September 2010, various attempts were made to defer a decision by the High Court on the ground of attempting mediation, but all ended being rejected.The Supreme Court was informed then that the High Court is contemplating mediation and has given time till September 23 for the parties to arrive at a settlement. A retired bureaucrat, Ramesh Chandra Tripathi, had moved a plea seeking mediation, but his petition was rejected by a three-judge bench of the Allahabad High Court by 2:1 majority.

The mediation panel headed by former apex court judge F M I Kallifull, will also include spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravishankar and senior advocate Sriram Panchu, said a five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi.

Reporting on Mediation Proceedings Barred by SC | In its order, the Supreme Court had restrained the media from reporting on the proceedings of mediation in the Ayodhya land dispute case. It had also directed in-camera proceedings of mediation in Ayodhya case. 

The Supreme Court's order said the panel will have to submit the first status report on the mediation process in the Ayodhya land dispute case within four weeks from the date of its appointment. The mediation process was held in Uttar Pradesh’s Faizabad district where the disputed site is located. The district was recently renamed as Ayodhya.

The matter will come up for the first time on Friday since the March 8 order of the top court. It had said that the mediation process would commence within a week and the panel would submit the progress report within four weeks.

Ayodhya Interim Report Filed on May 6 | Sources privy to the development said the interim report was filed with the apex court Registry on May 6, and the matter has been listed for hearing on Friday. The apex court on March 8 had referred the matter to mediation for exploring the possibility of an amicable settlement.

The report submitted by the three-member panel comprising FM Kalifullah, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Sriram Panchu, will now be  perused and the future course of action will be decided by a five-judge Constitution bench comprising Chief justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices SA Bobde, DY Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S Abdul Nazeer.

Panel to Act as Mediator in Ayodhya Land Dispute | A five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court had referred the Ayodhya's Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case to mediation for amicable settlement. The bench, headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, appointed a three-member panel to act as mediators. The panel will be headed by former Supreme Court judge FM Kalifullah with spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and mediation expert Sriram Panchu as other members. 

Supreme Court Hearing on Ayodhya Today | The Supreme Court will take up the politically sensitive case two months after it sent the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi title dispute for mediation. The three-member mediation committee constituted by the top court has submitted its interim report in a sealed cover. The Committee was tasked with exploring the possibility of an amicable settlement in the decades-old, politically sensitive case.