Supreme Court finds no ground to order probe into Rafale deal

The verdict by the apex court that it found no reason to intervene on what it called the “sensitive issue” of purchase of 36 jets from France came as a political victory for the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi just days after the defeat of the party in MP, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh — in the Assembly polls at the hands of the Congress.

Holding it did not find any substantial material on record to show there was “commercial favouritism” to any party by the Indian Government in choosing an offset partner, a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said perception of individuals cannot be the basis of a “fishing and roving enquiry” by the court and it cannot “sit in judgment” over the wisdom of the decision to go in for purchase of 36 aircraft in place of 126. “We are satisfied that there is no occasion to really doubt the process,” it ruled.

Meanwhile, the government on Friday ruled out the possibility of a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the contract and mounted a strident counter-attack on the Congress, saying the “deaf” will never hear an answer. More on P10

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Friday maintained that corruption had taken place in the contract which he asserted will be proved by his party and claimed that the basis of the court judgment is a CAG report that has neither been seen by anyone, nor shared with Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee. Gandhi used the barb of “chowkidaar chor hai” (watchman is a thief) against the PM, alleging that “massive corruption” has taken place in the contract.

BJP president Amit Shah Friday seized on SC’s verdict dismissing petitions seeking a probe into the Rafale deal to seek an apology from Rahul Gandhi. Accusing Gandhi of misleading people and endangering national security with his allegations about the Rs 58,000 crore deal, Shah said the verdict was a slap on the face of those who levelled such charges. He likened Gandhi’s allegations against Modi to throwing mud at the Sun.