Documents linked to the Rafale deal have been stolen, the centre told Supreme Court

Highlights Investigating how the classified documents were stolen: Centre

These are secret documents, can't be in public domain: Attorney General

Centre accused The Hindu newspaper for relying on these documents

India needs Rafale jets to defend the country "from Pakistani F-16 fighters that recently bombed us", the government said today at an open court hearing on petitions asking the Supreme Court to review its clean chit to the fighter jet deal with France. "We need Rafale jets to defend our country from F-16 fighter planes that recently bombed us. Without Rafale how can we resist them," the government's lawyer, Attorney General KK Venugopal argued.

"Rafale fighter jets are needed, although MIG-21 of the 1960s performed beautifully against the F-16," he added, referring to the dogfight after Pakistani aircraft crossed the Line of Control and tried to target Indian military installations. The air duel took place a day after India sent its fighter planes to target a terror training camp in Pakistan's Balakot.

"Because of the urgency (the need for fighter jets), negotiations started for Rafale. The first batch is to be supplied in September and 52 pilots are to be sent to France for two-three months training. It is to protect the security of the country. But we are attacked," said the Attorney General.

He said two squadrons of Rafale fighter jets were arriving in flyaway condition and added: "It is not for the court to intervene. Does Supreme Court know how many fighter planes we have?"

Justice KM Joseph replied, "Suppose great crime is committed, are you going to take shelter under national security?"

The government said documents linked to the Rafale deal had been stolen and petitioners were violating the Official Secrets Act by relying on classified documents. Petitioners like Prashant Bhushan had drawn the court's attention to an investigative report by The Hindu.

"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," Mr Venugopal said.

Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi questioned what action the government had taken.

"We are investigating how these documents were stolen," said the centre, accusing The Hindu newspaper of relying on these classified documents.

"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," said the Attorney General.

The Hindu, in the latest in a series of reports on the Rafale deal - the 36-jet purchase agreement at the core of the opposition's allegations of massive corruption by the government - reports that the deal became more expensive for India because of France's refusal to provide bank guarantees. The newsbreak by N Ram, Chairman of The Hindu Publishing Group, says the deal signed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016 for the aircraft and weapons packages for 36 fly-away Rafale fighter jets was more expensive by around Rs. 1,963 crore (Euro 246.11 million) than the estimated aligned cost of the 126 aircraft deal being negotiated by the previous Congress-led government.

The newspaper quotes a report of the Indian Negotiating Team (INT) to the defence ministry on July 21, 2016, and says it reveals how a parallel negotiating track weakened India's position and bolstered the French.

The government said that documents marked secret were put out in the public domain.

The case will next be heard on March 14.

The petitioners have asked for a review after the Supreme Court said in December that there was no reason to doubt the decision-making process amid Congress allegations of corruption in the 2016 jet deal. The top court dismissed petitions alleging that the government had gone for an overpriced deal to help Anil Ambani's company bag an offset contract with jet-maker Dassault. "There is no evidence of commercial favouritism to any private entity," the court had said, adding that the perception of individuals "cannot be the basis of a fishing and roving enquiry by this court".

Disclaimer: NDTV has been sued for 10,000 crores by Anil Ambani's Reliance Group for its coverage of the Rafale deal