SC Gives Clean Chit To Modi Govt In Rafale Deal

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday gave a clean chit to the Narendra Modi government in the Rafale fighter jets deal case, saying review petitions were without merit.

The court rejected pleas which had sought re-examination of the December 14, 2018 verdict which said there was no occasion to doubt the decision-making process in the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets.

The apex court rejected the contention that there was a need for registration of FIR in connection with the deal.

"We find the review petitions are without any merit," a bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said.

The bench also comprised Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph.

The court also closed contempt proceedings initiated against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and said that being an important political person, Rahul must remain more careful in future.

A contempt proceeding was initiated against Rahul Gandhi for his remark "Chowkidar Chor Hai", attributing it to the Prime Minister.

The bench said that Rahul Gandhi, being a person holding a place of importance in the political spectrum, should have been more careful before attributing to the top court certain things which were not part of the order.