Enough evidence now to prosecute PM in Rafale scam: Rahul Gandhi

In a post on social media, Rahul said, ’’There is now enough evidence to prosecute the PM in the Rafale Scam. The trail of corruption begins and ends with him. That crucial Rafale files incriminating him are now reported 'stolen' by the Government, is destruction of evidence and an obvious coverup. FIRagainstCorruptModi.’’

Addressing a press conference here, AICC media in-charge Randeep Surjewala, accusing the PM of misusing his position to provide undue benefit to Dessault Aviation company and causing a loss to the public exchequer, said an FIR should be filed against Prime Minister Narendra Modi under the Prevention for corruption Act 1988.

“It is clear from the revelations that the PM mislead the country by claiming that the price of Rafale jets bought by the NDA were less compared to those being bought during UPA. Further, he also removed the bank guarantee of 574 million Euros (Rs 4305 crore) included in the price of 126 jets negotiated by the UPA, in the meeting of the cabinet committee for security, to benefit the Dessault aviation company. This despite the Defence Ministry and law Minister saying the clause of bank guarantee was a mandatory one.

"It is now clear that the PM caused a loss to the public exchequer to benefit Dessault aviation company by misusing his office. It’s a clear cut case of section 13 (1D) of Prevention of Corruption Act and other sections of Indian Penal Code. Time has come to lodge an FIR to investigate the case and find the truth vis-a-vis the conduct of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and others involved in the case,” he said.

Rafale documents lost: Centre tells SC

The central government on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that the Rafale documents were stolen and the petitioners are violating law by relying on such papers, media reports said.

This statement invited much criticism from the Opposition, which accused the Narendra Modi government of being behind the disappearance of the documents.

"These documents were stolen from the Defence  Ministry either by former or present employees. These are secret documents and can't be in the public domain," the Attorney General has been quoted by NDTV.

When Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi asked what action has been taken, the Centre said the government is probing into the matter.

"It is a criminal offence. We are objecting preliminary because secret documents can't be annexed with the petition. Review and perjury petitions must be dismissed," the Attorney General was quoted by NDTV.

The petitioners have pointed several The Hindu reports over the Rafale row.