Supreme Court asks government to provide Rafale pricing in sealed cover
New Delhi, Oct 31 (IBNS): The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the central government to provide details of the pricing of the Rafale jets in a sealed cover in 10 days, media reports said.
The top court has also asked to provide the details of the decision-making process. It has asked the Centre to provide information which are legitimate to put in public domain.
The apex court has also asked the government to provide details on induction of offset partners in the deal as far as possible.
The next hearing of the case will be held on Nov 14.
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.
While addressing a rally in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday, Rahul said Modi will go to jail if Rafale deal is probed.
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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