Rafale deal: SC verdict on Centre's plea today
The documents are protected under the Official Secrets Act.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court will pronounce its verdict tomorrow on the review petitions filed in the Rafale case on whether the photocopied documents stolen from the Defence Ministry and presented by the petitioners can be relied on as evidence for ordering a probe.
A three judge Bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and K.M. Joseph had reserved orders on March 14 on petitions seeking review of the December 2018 judgment dismissing the plea for probe.
The Centre claimed ‘privilege’ for the stolen documents and contended that they could not be considered as evidence.
The apex court on December 14, 2018 had dismissed a petition filed by Mr. Bhushan, Mr. Shourie and former Minister Yashwant Sinha. Subsequently review petitions petitions were filed based on documents published in The Hindu and other publications.
The Centre had contended that the documents presented are privileged documents, which cannot be considered in evidence as per Section 123 of the Indian Evidence Act.
The documents are protected under the Official Secrets Act.