The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear a PIL seeking quashing of the Centre?s approval to the R2,058-crore Jet-Etihad Airways deal.
A bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam said that it would hear the petition on Tuesday after BJP leader Subramanian Swamy sought urgent hearing in the matter.
The Union Cabinet on Thursday cleared Jet Airways? proposed sale of 24% equity to Abu Dhabi-based Etihad, days after the deal got regulatory clearances. The deal has clearance both from Sebi and the Foreign Investment Promotion Board.
The deal has already faced numerous political controversies ever since it was first announced in July 2013. Besides, the stake sale deal remained stuck due to objections from regulators, as it was felt that Etihad would yield effective control of Jet Airways. The terms of the deal have been amended since then, leading to regulatory approvals.
Swamy, who alleged that the actions of the authorities to hasten the execution of the deal are abuse of position, has sought ?a direction to set aside and revoke any action or decision or grant of any further approvals/permissions/ permits, etc. by the respondent (govt) authorities…? He has also sought a CBI probe against the government officials who had cleared the deal.
?The petitioner challenges such arbitrary, irrational and malafide act of grant of largesse in the form of bilateral/MoU dated April 24 and by way of the present petition seeks an investigation under the supervision of this Court into the matters of national and public interest,? he stated.