LIVE: Rafale documents stolen from defence ministry, can't present in court: Govt to SC

During hearing of review pleas against clean chit to the Modi-led BJP government, the Attorney General of India (AGI) told the apex court that the documents on the Rafale deal were stolen from the Ministry of Defence and can't be presented in the court as it can affect national security.

New Delhi: The documents on the Rafale deal, as cited by national daily The Hindu, were stolen from the Ministry of Defence and can't be presented in the court as it can affect the national security, the Attorney General of India(AGI) told the apex court here on Wednesday during hearing of review pleas against clean chit to the Modi-led BJP government.

"An investigation is underway and these stolen documents can't be relied upon by the court. Also, it is an offence under the Official Secrets Act," said KK Venugopal, AGI.

Meanwhile, one of the petitioners, advocate Prashant Bhushan, alleged that the government lied in the court on the Rafale deal and should be pulled up for perjury. "Material suppression and incorrect facts were stated before this court. Had the government submitted correct facts the court would have definitely asked for an investigation," he said.

On December 14, 2018, the top court had dismissed four petitions seeking a court-monitored probe into the purchase of the Rafale jet fighters, saying the decision-making process was not in doubt and that it cannot go into the question of pricing and the choice of offset Indian partner by Dassault.

Former finance minister Yashwant Sinha, journalist-turned-politician Arun Shourie and activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan and one other had filed the petitions.

More details are awaited.