Supreme Court Opened Door for Probe into Rafale Scam: Rahul Gandhi
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that the Supreme Court has allowed a proper investigation into the Rafale scam.
By Rakesh Raman
Although the Supreme Court of India today dismissed the review petitions in the Rafale corruption case in which the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi was a prime accused, Congress says the case is not yet closed.
Rather, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said today that the top court has in fact allowed a proper investigation into the Rafale scam.
Quoting a part of the judgment, Rahul Gandhi tweeted that the Supreme Court has opened a huge door into investigation of the Rafale scam. He added that now an investigation must begin immediately and a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) must also be set up to probe this scam.
Earlier today a bench comprising outgoing Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, Justices S.K. Kaul, and K.M. Joseph had dismissed the review petitions seeking reassessment of the judgment that had refused an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the Rafale fighter jet deal with French firm Dassault Aviation.
In order to highlight corruption in Rafale deal, Rahul Gandhi was using ‘chowkidar chor hai’ (PM Narendra Modi as watchman is a thief) slogan extensively before the 2019 Lok Sabha election to discredit Modi for his alleged involvement in the deal.
Justice Joseph of the Supreme Court has opened a huge door into investigation of the RAFALE scam.
An investigation must now begin in full earnest. A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) must also be set up to probe this scam. #BJPLiesOnRafale pic.twitter.com/JsqZ53kZFP
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) November 14, 2019
Rahul Gandhi often called Modi a “thief” for stealing Rs. 30,000 crore (~ US$ 4 billion) in the Rafale deal which was handled by Modi in a shady manner.
Today, Congress asked PM Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government to accept a JPC investigation into the Rafale scam. “The truth of the matter is that until the JPC verdict is out in the public sphere, the Rafale deal stinks of corruption and crony capitalism,” a Congress spokesman said.
Congress quotes Para 86 of the judgement to say that today’s Supreme Court verdict does not stand in the way of investigation by the CBI after seeking sanction of prosecution under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
By Rakesh Raman, who is a national award-winning journalist and social activist. He is the founder of a humanitarian organization RMN Foundation which is working in diverse areas to help the disadvantaged and distressed people in the society. He also creates and publishes a number of digital publications on different subjects.
