Secret Papers On Rafale Deal Stolen: Govt.

Tells SC that ‘sensitive’ info is now out in the public domain

Govt. didn’t want it disclosed for the sake of national security’

Centre is thinking of ‘criminal action’ against The Hindu

- Krishnadas Rajagopal

Attorney-General K.K. Venugopal told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that “secret” documents published by The Hindu on the purchase of 36 Rafale jets were “stolen” from the Ministry of Defence, probably by former employees.

Mr. Venugopal referred to the lead article in The Hindu on March 6, saying ‘sensitive’ information like the price of the weapons is now in the public domain. The government had not wanted it disclosed for the sake of national security.

Parallel talks

He then referred to how The Hindu had published “only the first file noting” in reference to the Ministry’s objection to “parallel parleys” by the Prime Minister’s Office with French authorities over the deal. The second file noting by former Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, terming the note an “over-reaction,” was published by the news agency Asian News International (ANI).

He said the documents with The Hindu and ANI were “stolen documents.”

The Attorney-General said the government was thinking of taking “criminal action” under the Official Secrets Act.