'Congress Should Apologise Now' Says BJP As SC Dismisses Pleas Seeking Probe Into Rafale Deal

On May 10, the apex court had reserved the decision on the pleas, including one filed by former Union ministers Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie and activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan, seeking a re-examination of its findings that there was no occasion to doubt the decision-making process in the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets.

French Rafale fighter jet. FILE PIC/AFP.

New Delhi: Giving a clean to Modi government, the Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed petitions seeking a court-monitored probe into the Rafale fighter jet deal with French firm Dassault Aviation. “We don't feel necessary to order FIR or roving inquiry into Rafale deal case,” said a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi. The apex court rejected the contention that there was need for registration of FIR in connection with the Rs 59,000 crore deal. "We find the review petitions are without any merit," said the bench also comprising of Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph. On May 10, the apex court had reserved the decision on the pleas, including one filed by former Union ministers Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie and activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan, seeking a re-examination of its findings that there was no occasion to doubt the decision-making process in the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets. “We welcome the verdict. This decision has not just brought relief to us but to the entire country. The nation was hurt when Opposition used to make baseless allegations against the prime minister,”said Shahnawaz Hussain, BJP spokesperson,  adding: "This is a lesson for the Congress party which has made childish comments and should issue an apology for trying to tarnish the image of PM Modi". In another verdict related to the case, the court also closed contempt proceedings initiated against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and told him to remain "more careful" in future. A criminal contempt plea has been filed against Rahul Gandhi by BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi for wrongly attributing to the apex court his "chowkidar chor hai" remark in Rafale case against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Gandhi, who was then the President of the Congress Party, had told the bench that he has already tendered unconditional apology to the apex court.