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Rafale deal: Explain choice of offset partner, give us details of pricing in 10 days, SC tells govt

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Rafale Deal

The Narendra Modi government, which has so far focused on rhetoric rather than answer questions being raised about the controversial Indo-France Rafale deal, was told by the Supreme Court today (Wednesday, October 31) to submit within 10 days the details of pricing and the selection of Anil Ambani’s defence firm as Indian offset partner in a sealed cover.

It said these details should also be provided to the petitioners in the case. Otherwise, the Centre should file an affidavit – within these 10 days – to say that the pricing in the Rafale fighter jet deal between India and France is exclusive and cannot be shared with the court.

“Court would also like to be appraised about the pricing” of the aircraft, “particularly the advantages thereof”, a bench of Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and Justices UU Lalit and KM Joseph ordered.

“We would like the details of pricing and cost to be submitted to the Supreme Court in a sealed cover. This may be submitted in the next 10 days,” said the court.

The government argued that pricing was not revealed in Parliament and the earlier government had also not disclosed such details. Chief Justice Gogoi said the government could file an affidavit or legal document in court.

“If pricing is something exclusive and you are not sharing it with us, please file an affidavit and say so,” the bench told Attorney General KK Venugopal in its oral observations.

“Such details that may be considered strategic may not be furnished to the petitioners,” said the court.

Beginning the hearing, the judges made the observation that the suitability of the jet and its utility has not been questioned. “What had been questioned is the bonafide of the decision-making and price,” they said.

In the last hearing earlier this month, the court had asked the government to furnish details of the decision-making process that led to the deal which has Anil Ambani’s Reliance Defence as its offset partner, but had emphasized that it would not get into “pricing or suitability” of the jets. The bench had made clear that its direction to the Centre was issued to satisfy itself about the legitimacy of the decision-making process for procuring 36 Rafale fighter jets.

The directions were passed on October 10 on the two PILs filed by lawyers ML Sharma and Vineet Dhanda. The top court, however, had observed that the averments made in the two PILs were “grossly inadequate” and had said that it was not issuing the notice on them.

The Centre had, last week, filed the papers concerning the decision-making process with the Supreme Court’s registry in a sealed cover.

On Wednesday, as the SC bench, headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and also comprising Justices UU Lalit and KM Joseph, began its proceedings in the two PILs filed over the Rafale Deal controversy – by petitioners ML Sharma, who has named Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the respondent in the case, and Vineet Dhanda – it noted that since the last date of hearing in the matter, two more litigations on the subject had been received by the court – one by former BJP leaders Arun Shourie, Yashwant Sinha and advocate Prashant Bhushan and the other by Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh.

Sinha and Shourie – both former Union ministers – and Bhushan have sought registration of an FIR into the fighter jet deal between India and France alleging “criminal misconduct” by high public functionaries. The trio has also sought a direction to CBI to investigate the offences mentioned in their complaint in a “time-bound” manner and submit periodic status reports to the apex court.

AAP MP Sanjay Singh, in his separate plea filed through lawyer Dheeraj Kumar Singh, has sought setting up of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the supervision of the apex court to probe the Rafale deal.

He has sought that the SIT should probe the reasons for cancellation of earlier deal entered into by the UPA government for the purchase of 126 fighter jets.

On October 10, the bench had sought from the Attorney General the details of the steps involved in the decision leading to the new deal. The CJI led bench had then clarified that the details so sought would not cover the pricing or the suitability of the equipment for the Indian Air Force, bearing in mind the sensitive nature of the matter.

The Court also directed the government to hand over the details of the decision-making process of the deal to the petitioners.

The Attorney General objected to sharing of details of the deal including its pricing, by stating that it would be covered under the Official Secrets Act. Considering the objection, the Court said that whatever documents that could be legitimately produced in public domain should be given to the petitioners and all other documents covered under the Official Secrets Act should be given to the Court in a sealed cover.

So far, the court had not sought this detail from the Centre.

When Bhushan pressed for CBI probe, the CJI replied: “For CBI probe, you have to wait.”

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

The PIL alleges that in the Rafale deal there is prima facie evidence of the commission of cognizable offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act by public servants occupying the highest of public offices in the country. Though the petitioners had filed a complaint on October 4 before the CBI alleging foul play in Rafale deal, no action has been taken.

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Chhattisgarh liquor scam: Bhupesh Baghel says his son has not received summons, ED created media hype

Following the searches, unconfirmed reports emerged that Chaitanya had been summoned to appear before the ED on March 15. Baghel, who was present during the raids, dismissed the ED’s actions as a result of the BJP’s frustration.

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Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel on Saturday refuted reports that his son, Chaitanya Baghel, had been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an alleged liquor scam linked to a money laundering case in the state. Baghel stated that his son had not received any official notice from the central agency to appear before it.

Media personnel gathered outside the Baghel residence in Bhilai (Durg district) and the ED office in Raipur amid speculation that Chaitanya had been called to record his statement on Saturday. When asked if his son would appear before the ED, Baghel responded, “The question of going to the ED office does not arise if no notice has been received. When summons are served, they will be complied with.”

Speaking to reporters outside his home, Baghel accused the ED of creating unnecessary media hype and being used as a tool to defame political opponents. “It is the ED’s job to create a media frenzy. The agency is being misused to tarnish reputations. They have been doing this for years. I was implicated in a CD case for seven years, but the court recently discharged me of all charges. This is a BJP conspiracy to malign politicians,” he said.

On March 10, the ED conducted searches at Baghel’s residence in Bhilai and 13 other locations, including the premises of Laxmi Narayan Bansal, alias Pappu Bansal, an alleged associate of Chaitanya. The raids, carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), lasted about eight hours, during which the agency reportedly seized ₹30 lakh in cash and several documents.

The alleged liquor scam, as per the ED, took place between 2019 and 2022 during the Congress government’s tenure in Chhattisgarh, led by Baghel. The agency claims the scam caused a massive loss to the state exchequer, with over ₹2,100 crore in illicit gains allegedly funneled to a liquor syndicate.

Following the searches, unconfirmed reports emerged that Chaitanya had been summoned to appear before the ED on March 15. Baghel, who was present during the raids, dismissed the ED’s actions as a result of the BJP’s frustration.

The Congress party has strongly opposed the ED’s actions, with party workers burning effigies of the BJP-led central government and the ED on March 11 in protest. The party has accused the BJP of using central agencies to target political opponents and undermine democracy.

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Shiv Sena leader Mangat Rai murdered in Punjab: 3 arrested after brief shootout with police in Moga

In a bid to escape, Rai attempted to flee on his motorcycle, but the assailants pursued him and fired again, ultimately hitting him. Despite being rushed to a hospital by the police, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

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Punjab Police have arrested three individuals linked to the murder of Mangat Rai, the Moga district president of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, officials confirmed on Saturday. The suspects were apprehended following an exchange of gunfire with police in Malout, Muktsar district.

Rai, 52, was shot dead late on Thursday night while stepping out of his house to buy groceries. According to police, three unidentified assailants attacked Rai around 10 pm. The first bullet missed him but struck a 12-year-old boy who was caught in the line of fire. Rai attempted to flee the scene on his two-wheeler but was pursued by the attackers, who fired again, this time fatally injuring him.

Rai was rushed to a hospital by police, where he was declared dead. The injured boy is currently receiving medical treatment.

While investigators suspect the murder may be the result of a personal rivalry, Rai’s family has denied any enmity, stating that he had no conflicts with anyone.

The arrests mark a significant breakthrough in the case, with police continuing to probe the motive behind the attack.

In a bid to escape, Rai attempted to flee on his motorcycle, but the assailants pursued him and fired again, ultimately hitting him. Despite being rushed to a hospital by the police, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Investigators are considering the possibility that the murder was the result of a personal rivalry; however, Rai’s family members have asserted that he had no known enemies. The police continue to gather evidence and investigate the circumstances surrounding this alarming incident.

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RJD leader Tej Pratap Yadav asks on-duty cop to dance during Holi celebration, video goes viral

The video captures Yadav, smeared with colors, singing a song and instructing the policeman to dance. He is heard saying, “I will play a song, and you will have to dance. If you don’t, you will be suspended.”

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A video of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLA Tej Pratap Yadav, son of former Union Minister Lalu Yadav, has gone viral on social media, showing him pressuring an on-duty police officer to dance during Holi celebrations at his residence in Patna.

In the clip, Yadav is seen threatening the officer with suspension if he refused to dance, leading to widespread criticism from political opponents.

The video captures Yadav, smeared with colors, singing a song and instructing the policeman to dance. He is heard saying, “I will play a song, and you will have to dance. If you don’t, you will be suspended.”

Yadav further added, “Ek ganna bajayenge, usme tumko thumka lagana hai, bura mat mano Holi hai. Aaj nahi thumka lagaoge toh suspend kar diye jaoge” (We will play a song, and you will have to dance to it. Don’t feel bad, it’s Holi. If you don’t dance today, you will be suspended). The policeman eventually complies, dancing as Yadav sings.

The incident has drawn sharp reactions from political leaders, with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain condemning Yadav’s behavior. “He asked his bodyguard to dance; otherwise, he would suspend him. He has no power or authority to suspend anyone. This is Nitish Kumar’s government, not Jungle Raj. Using such language is unfortunate. RJD leaders have not evolved,” Hussain stated.

Janata Dal (United) (JDU) spokesperson Arvind Nishad also criticized Yadav, linking the incident to the past governance of Lalu Yadav and Rabri Devi. “The order given by MLA Tej Pratap Yadav to the police personnel assigned to his security to dance while on duty is a reminder of the Lalu-Rabri regime. His threats and actions are inappropriate. The way Holi was celebrated during their rule and how he recreated that chaos truly brings back memories of those days. In today’s governance, it is unimaginable how someone can behave in such a manner,” Nishad remarked.

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