SC ask Centre to file Rafale pricing

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre to file an affidavit within 10 days in a sealed envelope on the pricing details and advantages of the Rafale deal.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said, “Such details that may be considered strategic may not be furnished to the petitioners.”

The court asked for documents in the public domain to be made available to the petitioners.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices U U Lalit and K M Joseph also asked the Centre to share information which can be brought in the public domain with the petitioners.

The top court, which has now fixed the matter for hearing on November 14, said  documents  considered strategic and confidential may not be shared.

CJI Ranjan Gogoi told petitioners that the CBI probe in the Rafale deal will have to wait.

Attorney General KK Venugopal objected to disclosing details of pricing. Court says “submit the objections on affidavit, we will consider”.

The Supreme Court is hearing a batch of petitions including the joint plea filed by former Union Ministers Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie along with Prashant Bhushan, into the Rafale fighter jet deal between India and France today.