Rafale deal: SC seeks steps in decision making process but won't get into pricing
New Delhi, Oct 10 (IBNS): Amid massive row over the buying of 36 fighter jets from France by India, the Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the central government to provide details of the steps taken in the decision making process of Rafale deal, media reports said.
The apex court has asked the government to provide details in a sealed cover.
However, the top court said it will not get into the prices at which the deal was finalised.
The Supreme Court has been quoted by NDTV as saying, "We are not issuing notice to the government. We make it clear that the court hasn't bought into the arguments made by the petitioner. Their arguments are grossly inadequate."
Petitioner ML Sharma argued there was corruption in the Rs 59000-crore deal.
The Rafale deal triggered massive row after former French President Francois Hollande stated India had urged France to nominate Indian businessman Anil Ambani as a partner in the deal.
Though the French government dismissed Hollande's statement, the latter stood firm by his words.
The principal opposition party, Congress, picked up the issue to corner the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi even called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a "thief" multiple times over the issue.
The main opposition party even demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe into the matter.
When urged by the Congress to provide details of the prices at which the deal was finalised, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman refused to do so citing secrecy of the pact.
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