Scorpene deal: SC refuses to entertain PIL

As the court was in no mood to entertain the petition, the petitioners chose to withdraw the plea.

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a PIL seeking an independent probe into alleged payment of kickbacks in the Rs 16,000 crore Scorpene submarine deal.

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A bench of Justice Ruma Pal, Justice Dalveer Bhandari and Justice Markandey Katju, instead advised the petitioners to approach the High Court.

"Is this Court bound to monitor such investigations? Why don't you go to the High Court?" the bench asked the petitioners' counsel.

As the court was in no mood to entertain the petition, the petitioners chose to withdraw the plea and the same was "dismissed as withdrawn".

The petitioners -- Centre for Public Interest Litigation, Citizens Forum against Corruption and Transparency International India -- had also sought action against the beneficiaries of the alleged commission of Rs 640 crore in the deal.

Opposition parties had accused that kickbacks were received by some middlemen "close" to Congress party. The Government has denied it.