Rafale row: Rahul Gandhi claims enough evidence available to prosecute Narendra Modi, terms Centre's stand on stolen files 'cover up'

New Delhi: Alleging that the “trail of corruption” in the Rafale fighter jet deal “begins and ends with” Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi Wednesday claimed there “is now enough evidence” to prosecute him.

Leading the party’s attack on the Modi dispensation over the deal, Rahul also alleged “destruction of evidence” and “obvious cover-up” after the government told the Supreme Court that crucial files pertaining to the fighter jet deal were “stolen”.

“There is now enough evidence to prosecute the prime minister in the Rafale scam. The trail of corruption begins and ends with him. That crucial Rafale files incriminating him are now reported ‘stolen’ by the Govt, is destruction of evidence and an obvious cover-up,” he said on Twitter, using the hashtag “FIRagainstCorruptModi”.

The Congress chief’s attack came on a day when the government said in the Supreme Court that documents related to the Rafale fighter jet deal have been stolen from the Defence Ministry and threatened The Hindu newspaper with action under the the Official Secrets Act for publishing articles based on them.

The Congress on Wednesday alleged corruption and malfeasance in the Rafale fighter jet deal and said the time has come to lodge an FIR against Narendra Modi.

“The corruption and malfeasance in Rafale deal is out in the open. Modi misused his office to give benefits to Dassault Aviation and caused loss to the public exchequer,” Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told reporters.

“It is now crystal clear that blatant and massive corruption has taken place in the Rafale deal. It is undoubtedly established that Modi misused his office as prime minister to grant undue benefit to Dassault Aviation and caused a loss to public exchequer,” he said.