SC grants 6 weeks to Govt in helicopter case

New Delhi, Mar 30 (UNI) The Supreme Court today granted six weeks' time to the petitioner to respond to the counter affidavits filed by Ministry of Defence denying the allegations of bungling in purchase of 16 helicopters for Indian Air Force and BSF.

A bench comprising Justices C K Thakker and Altamas Kabir adjourned the hearing of the PIL filed by Dipak Kumar Jena demanding a Cbi probe into the alleged illegal payments made to the tune of crores of rupees in the deal.

The government in its affidavit has categorically denied the involvement of any agent in the deal with M/sRosoboronexport, Russia entered into on December 17,2002.

The affidavit filed through R. Rajagopal, Under Secretary in the Ministry of Defence has denied the allegations as bogus and frivolous and has also questioned the locus standi of the petitioner.

UNI