After Drama Over 'Letter For Adjournment', SC Defers Hearing On Plea Seeking Stay On Rafale Deal To Oct 10

The Supreme Court bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi, Navin Sinha and KM Joseph today adjourned the plea seeking a stay on controversial Rafale deal between India and France noting that petitioner and lawyer M L Sharma had circulated a letter seeking adjournment saying he was "unwell".

But there was high drama as "unwell" Sharma appeared and said he is seeking adjournment as he, in fact, wanted to "file additional affidavits".

"Now you are talking about filing an additional affidavit but the letter you circulated seeking adjournment is saying you are unwell. You have missed the bus", said Justice Gogoi

In the PIL, Sharma had alleged major discrepancies in the deal.

“The inter-government agreement to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets must be quashed as it was an outcome of corruption and not ratified by Parliament under Article 253 (Parliament has the power to make any law for implementing any inter-government agreement) of the Constitution”, the plea said.

It also sought FIR and prosecution of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former defence Minister and present Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, business tycoon Anil Ambani and French armament firm Dassault with the recovery of amount.