Indian gov't tells Supreme Court Rafale deal documents were stolen

NEW DELHI, March 6 (Xinhua) -- The Indian government on Wednesday sought rejection of review petition seeking probe into The multi-million U.S. dollar Rafale aircraft deal, saying documents annexed with The plea were stolen from The defence ministry and cannot be shown in The court.

The government's argument, forwarded by Attorney General K K Venugopal, was vociferously opposed by The petitioners.

"These documents were stolen from The defence ministry eiTher by former or present employees. These are secret documents and can't be in The public domain," Venugopal said.

"It is a criminal offence. We are objecting preliminary because secret documents can't be annexed with The petition. Review and perjury petitions must be dismissed," Venugopal added.

Venugopal accused a local newspaper The Hindu of relying on These classified documents.

The Hindu has published a series of reports highlighting major anomalies in The deal.

The top was heating petitions seeking a review of its judgement that gave clean chit to The government on The Rafale fighter jets deal.

The plea was filed by former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha, journalist-turned-politician Arun Shourie and activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan, among oThers.

India in 2016 signed a deal with France for purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets in a bid to bolster country's military image.

Congress and oTher opposition parties alleged The ruling BJP party has indulged in a gross corruption while finalising The deal and demand a joint parliamentary committee probe into The matter.