Supreme Court's Verdict On Rafale Deal Paves Way For Criminal Probe, Says Randeep Singh Surjewala

After Supreme Court's verdict on Rafale deal where the top court upheld the Rafale mega defence deal and dismissed the review plea filed by senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, ex-Union Ministers Yashwant Singha and Arun Shourie, the Congress party held a press briefing where they said that the decision has opened doors for a proper investigation into the matter. They further added that the BJP should stop celebrating and welcome a serious investigation.

The Supreme Court’s bench comprising of Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, Justice SK Kaul and Justice KM Joseph pronounced the verdict. The mega defence pact was at the centre of political storm during the runup for the Lok Sabha Elections. Pronouncing the verdict, Justice Kaul said that, “We do not consider the submissions for the registration of FIR to be fair. The review petition is dismissed found to be without any merit.”

"BJP should tell us how will they save their bosses now? Supreme Court can’t probe this because the top court can’t get into contractual corruption as per Article 32," Surjewala told the reporters. 

During the press briefing the Congress party asked nine question to the Bharatiya Janata Party:

1. Why did BJP Government supersede HAL in awarding Rs.30,000 crore 'Offset Contract' to benefit cronies?

2. Why was ‘Offset Contract’ of Rs.30,000 Cr given to a 12 day old company with zero experience?

3. Why purchase a Rs.526 crore Rafale for a price of Rs.1670 crore and thereby cause a loss of Rs.41,205 crore?

4. Why was ‘National Security’ compromised by reducing the number of aircrafts from 126 to 36?

5. Why was Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) violated and Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) bypassed by the Prime Minister at the time of announcing the purchase of 36 Rafale aircrafts on 10th April, 2015?

6. Why did BJP Government sacrifice 'Transfer of Technology to India' for manufacture of Rafale aircrafts?

7. Why eight year long delay in delivery of Rafale(s), when it falls under classification of ‘emergency purchase’ of aircrafts?

8. Why did PM Modi increase the ‘benchmark price’ of Rafale jets from 5.2 billion Euros to 8.2 billion Euros?

9. Why did BJP Government waive off the condition of seeking 'Sovereign Guarantee’ despite the objections of Law Ministry & Defence Acquisition Wing?

The CJI-headed Bench had reserved the order on the review plea filed by senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, ex-Union Ministers Yashwant Singha and Arun Shourie. The review plea alleged that the government misled the court into delivering its December 14, 2018 judgment upholding the agreement.

On May 10, the top court had reserved the decision on the pleas seeking a re-examination of its findings that there was no occasion to doubt the decision-making process in the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets. A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph is likely to pronounce verdicts on three review petitions filed by the trio, lawyer Vineet Dhandha and Aam Aadmi Party lawmaker Sanjay Singh.