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Rafale deal: SC reserves its order on petitions challenging the deal and seeking court-monitored probe

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Rafale deal controversy

The Supreme Court today (Wednesday, November 14) reserved its judgment on pleas challenging the deal for procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France and seeking a court-monitored probe into the matter.

A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and comprising Justices UU Lalit and KM Joseph, heard the arguments two days after the government submitted details on the decision-making process to finalise the Rafale fighter jet deal with France and the details of pricing in a sealed cover exclusively to the judges. A redacted version of decision making process was shared with petitioners.

The petitioners in the case include advocate Manohar Lal Sharma, lawyer Vineet Dhanda, AAP MP Sanjay Singh and former Union ministers Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie and activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan.

The petitioners wanted the Attorney-General, representing the Centre, to reply why a joint press statement was issued by Prime Minister along with French President Francois Hollande in April 2015, well over a year before the Cabinet Committee on Security finally approved the 36 jets’ deal signed in Sep 2016.

On the price of the Rafale aircraft, they said the government was hiding behind the secrecy clause of the agreement.

Arun Shourie, who was also present, said, “All that is spoken of as add on’s to the jets had figured in the original Request for Proposal,” adding, “Government is putting out all kinds of reports through ‘friendly media’.”

He argued that pricing was about public money and it must not be covered under secrecy agreement.

Attorney General KK Venugopal contended that “secrecy agreement has to be secret”. He argued that if the price is made public, adversaries would be able to relate it to the equipment. The AG said the secrecy is not about the price but the weaponry and avionics and if price is made public, adversaries would be able to relate it to the equipment.

The AG further asked if the court was competent to judicially review the Rafale deal, adding that the “matter is for experts to decide on, not the court”.

The bench then asked for the assistance of an Air Force officer on the issue. Deputy Chief of Air staff, Air Marshal VR Chaudhari and two other officers from Indian Air Force appeared in the Supreme Court to assist it on the issue of the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France.

They told the court that Sukhoi 30s were the latest to be inducted which is a third generation aircraft and added that the Indian Air Force does not have fourth or fifth generation aircraft in its fleet. The top court asked if there has been no induction of aircraft since 1985, the officers said “no”.

The government’s contention that procedure was followed was challenged, arguing that the Rafale deal qualified none of the three conditions laid down by the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP).

It was contrary to the procedure laid down as the choice was not disclosed to the Cabinet, Defence Acquisition Council nor the Defence Minister. They argued that the government “short-circuited” the acquisition process, as it took the Inter-Government Agreement route to avoid giving tender.

Alleging gross violation of procedure in decision making process in the deal, Bhushan asked: “Who took the decision for 36 jets? On what basis did the PM announce the deal for 36 jets? He had no authority. How was 126 jets reduced to 36 jets?”

Asserting that not a single aircraft was delivered till now even after three-and-a-half years, he told the Supreme Court bench that if the 126 aircraft deal was still on, “at least 18 jets would have been delivered by April 2019”.

The government note in the Supreme Court on the Rafale deal said the prolonged impasse over the 126-aircraft deal had caused an “urgent need” to acquire 36 Rafale jets or two squadrons in a fly-away condition.

The documents provided by the government Monday claimed that the delay in concluding the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) deal, during the UPA rule, gave India’s adversaries time to upgrade and equip their fighter fleets with advanced weaponry.

“During this long period of inconclusive 126 MMRCA process, our adversaries inducted modern aircraft and upgraded their older versions. They acquired better capability air-to-air missiles and inducted their indigenous fighters in large numbers. Further, they modernised and inducted aircraft with an advanced weapon and radar capabilities,” the government had said.

When asked by the CJI about the argument of the petitioner that France had not given a sovereign guarantee to the deal, the attorney general said there was “letter of comfort” from the French President.

The petitioners also questioned Reliance as the choice of offset partner, a company with no experience in manufacturing defence aircraft. Regarding the contentious offset details of the Rafale deal, Justice Joseph asked the additional defence secretary as to how the country’s interests would be protected if the offset partner did not carry out production.

“What was the need to amend offset guidelines with retrospective effect?” Joseph asked. The official said that it was for the government to accept the choice made by the Original Equipment Manufacturer of the offset partner. Venugopal said that Dassault had not yet submitted details of offset partner to government.

India News

Pahalgam terror victim Vinay Narwal’s wife says don’t want people going after Muslims, Kashmiris

“We seek peace and justice,” Himanshi declared, wiping away tears. “Those responsible for his death must face punishment.”

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In a poignant address on Thursday, Himanshi Narwal, widow of Naval officer Lt. Vinay Narwal, urged unity and restraint, saying, “We don’t want anyone targeting Muslims or Kashmiris.”

Her voice steady yet heavy with grief, she spoke at a blood donation camp in Karnal, honouring her husband, who was tragically killed in a terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, just 10 days before his 27th birthday.

The couple, married only a week prior, was honeymooning when terrorists fatally shot Lt. Narwal at close range.

At the Karnal event, organized by the National Integrated Forum of Artists and Activists (NIFAA), Himanshi and Lt. Narwal’s mother broke down while paying floral tributes.

Himanshi blew a kiss to her husband’s photograph, while his mother, hands folded in reverence, kissed the framed image. “We seek peace and justice,” Himanshi declared, wiping away tears. “Those responsible for his death must face punishment.”

The camp, held in the officer’s hometown, saw an outpouring of support from locals and beyond, reflecting the community’s shared sorrow.

Lt. Narwal’s sister, Shristi, expressed heartfelt thanks to attendees, noting, “People traveled long distances to donate blood, and we’ve received countless messages of support. The government’s response has been overwhelming.”

The event highlighted the officer’s legacy of service, with speakers emphasizing his enduring presence in the nation’s heart. NIFAA Chairperson Pritpal Singh Pannu remarked, “A young hero, destined to serve for decades, was stolen by terrorism. Soldiers shed blood to save lives; today, we donate blood to honor his sacrifice.”

A blood donor at the camp shared, “Lt. Narwal’s sacrifice will never be forgotten. Donating blood is our tribute, but nothing can fill the void he left.” The attack, which claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists, at Pahalgam’s Baisaran meadows, ranks among Kashmir’s deadliest civilian assaults in recent years.

India’s ongoing struggle with terrorism underscores the need for robust security measures, yet Himanshi’s call for peace resonates as a plea to avoid communal division.

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The Bhootnii social media reviews: Fans say horror isn’t scary, even ghosts deserve better scripts

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Bollywood’s fascination with horror-comedy remains undimmed, and The Bhootnii, starring Sanjay Dutt, Mouni Roy, Palak Tiwari, Sunny Singh, and Beyounick, dives headfirst into this quirky genre. Helmed by director Sidhaant Sachdev, the film unfolds a peculiar tale of a college tree that conjures a ghost named Mohabbat each Valentine’s Day, blending supernatural antics with a romantic twist.

Released on April 25, 2025, The Bhootnii has sparked a whirlwind of reactions, with Mouni Roy’s standout performance earning raves even as the film grapples with a faltering storyline.

Online chatter has zeroed in on Roy’s captivating portrayal of Mohabbat, with fans showering her with praise. One enthused, “Mouni Roy is pure magic—her ghost is the soul of the film!” Another marveled at her dedication, noting, “Spending 45 days in a harness paid off; she’s mesmerizing in every frame.” A third fan gushed, “Mouni’s Mohabbat makes this chaotic horror-comedy worth watching—she’s a genre gem!” Roy’s ability to infuse the spectral role with both charm and intensity has cemented her as the film’s saving grace, striking a chord with viewers.

Critics, however, have skewered the film’s lackluster script, which struggles to balance scares and humor. One review sighed, “The horror fizzles, the comedy feels stale, and the plot wanders like a lost spirit.” Another jabbed, “The Bhootnii stumbles where Stree danced—its ghost needs a sharper story.” Sanjay Dutt’s belated appearance as an eccentric ghostbuster, armed with oddball tools and arcane wisdom, injects fleeting energy but fails to rescue the narrative. Faisal Khan’s sporadic comedic bits offer mild relief, yet many deem the film a disjointed effort, with one viewer quipping, “I left more haunted by the script than the ghost.”

Amid India’s thriving horror-comedy wave, The Bhootnii has fueled spirited online debates, reflecting the genre’s pull despite its uneven execution. While unlikely to claim cinematic glory, Roy’s luminous performance offers a beacon for fans willing to navigate its bumpy ride. For others, the film’s narrative pitfalls render it a spectral disappointment, underscoring the challenges of crafting a cohesive spooky-laugh riot.

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Instagram head Adam Mosseri dances with influencers Sakshi Shivdasani, Naina Bhan to Bollywood song, video surfaces

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Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, showcased his playful side by joining actors Sakshi Shivdasani and Naina Bhan for a lively dance reel that lit up social media. Posted collaboratively on their Instagram accounts, the trio danced to the infectious Luv Letter by Kanika Kapoor from The Legend of Michael Mishra, a track dominating Instagram trends.

With Mosseri flanked by Sakshi and Naina, he gamely followed their choreography, bringing a lighthearted charm to the clip. Sakshi captioned the post with a cheeky nod to their podcast MOS, writing, “Naina and Sakshi have a podcast called MOS, so my name is @mosseri (we’re delusional).”

The reel sparked a flurry of reactions, with fans flooding the comments with laughter and admiration. One user exclaimed, “This video is unreal!” while another praised, “Love how carefree you all are!” A third simply declared, “Absolutely obsessed!” The spontaneous moment highlighted Instagram’s role as a platform for creative connections, bridging global executives with local talent.

Mosseri’s India visit, centered around the WAVES 2025 Summit in Mumbai, has been a whirlwind of star-studded interactions.

On Wednesday, he dined with Bollywood power couple Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh at Bandra’s Papa’s restaurant, sharing a selfie on Instagram captioned, “Met the charismatic @deepikapadukone and @ranveersingh in Bombay, savoring incredible food at @papasbombay.”

Deepika responded playfully, “What happens at @papasbombay stays there!” with emojis, while Ranveer added, “Good times!” with heartfelt emojis, reflecting their warm camaraderie.

That same day, Mosseri met content creator Prajakta Koli, who posted a photo on Instagram, writing, “Grateful for the chat, @mosseri!” His packed itinerary culminates on Friday with a high-profile interaction alongside actor Shraddha Kapoor at the WAVES Summit, a global platform celebrating media and innovation.

Mosseri’s engagement with India’s entertainment scene underscores Instagram’s growing influence in the country, where millions use the platform to share stories and connect. His visit, blending professional commitments with cultural immersion, highlights the app’s role in fostering creativity and collaboration across borders, resonating with India’s dynamic digital community.

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