Court orders Oz daily to hand over leaked Scorpene data to DCNS

An Australian court on Thursday confirmed its preliminary decision made earlier this week asking ‘The Australian’ newspaper to provide all leaked data of India’s Scorpene submarine to French shipbuilder DCNS and to stop publishing more details.

The paper which has already withdrawn, after the first decision on Monday, information published on its website, will provide DCNS with all the documents in its possession and is prohibited from publishing any additional document.

Over 22,000 pages of top secret data on the capabilities of six highly advanced submarines being built for the Indian Navy in Mumbai in collaboration with the French company, have been leaked.

“The Supreme Court of the State of New South Wales (Australia) confirmed the preliminary decision it had rendered on August 29 against The Australian,” DCNS said.

The Australian reported the leak and the French defence firm approached the Supreme Court in Australia to stop the newspaper from publishing the leaked documents. India has asked France and DCNS to probe the leak.

Underlining that confidentiality of information is a matter of utmost importance, DCNS said it welcomes the court’s decision.

Meanwhile, France on Thursday condemned the leak of secret technical data, calling it a “malicious act”. “We will use every means at our disposal to learn the truth in the affair, which came to light last week”, French defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said.