Indian govt chose Anil Ambani as Rafale partner, says Francois Hollande

The report referring to former French president is being verified, says government spokesperson

The government’s repeated denials that Anil Ambani’s Reliance Group got special favours in the purchase of 36 Rafale fighters were on Friday challenged, with former French president François Hollande revealing that New Delhi nominated Ambani as the Indian offset partner.

Hollande was the French president in April 2015 who hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Paris when the latter publicly announced his decision to buy 36 Rafales from Dassault in “flyaway” condition.

The Rafale deal has come under concerted attack from the Opposition, which has charged the government with paying an inflated price, with endangering national security by cancelling an on-going tender