In a huge victory for the Centre, the Supreme Court on Friday dismissed all the petitions seeking a court-monitored investigation into the Rafale deal. Dismissing the petitions, a bench comprising CJI Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and K.M. Joseph, clarified that the apex court has not found any material to show that the deal was a commercial favouritism.
"Perception of individuals cannot form the basis for interference... There is no occasion to doubt decision-making process in the Rafale deal," the judgment said.
Four pleas were filed by six petitioners—M.L. Sharma, Vineet Dhanda, Sanjay Singh, Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie and Prashant Bhushan—in the Supreme Court seeking a court-assisted probe into the Centre's deal with French firm Dassault Aviation to buy 36 fighter jets for a total of Rs 58,000 crore. The PIL alleged that there is prima facie evidence of commission of cognizable offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act by public servants in the Rafale deal.
On November 14, the court had reserved orders on the petitions alleging corruption and procedural irregularities in the deal for procurement of 36 jets from the French company.
