The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a PIL seeking a fresh probe into the deal between India and France for procurement of 36 Rafale jets on the basis of reports alleging payment of bribes by Dassault Aviation for getting the order. A bench comprising Chief Justice Uday Umesh Lalit and Justice S Ravindra Bhat considered the submission of lawyer M L Sharma that a direction for issuance of a letter rogatory to collect fresh evidence relating to the deal be issued. The lawyer referred to media reports and sought issuance of direction for issuing letter rogatory to the Indian probe agency to enable them to secure evidence in the case from foreign countries. He said one billion Euros were allegedly paid by Dassault Aviation to some middleman to get the deal in its favour. Having gone through the facts and circumstances and the case on record, in our considered view, no case is made out for the exercise of jurisdiction of this court under Article 32 (provides right to move SC
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a PIL seeking a fresh probe into the deal between India and France for the procurement of 36 Rafale jets. A bench comprising Chief Justice Uday Umesh Lalit and S Ravindra Bhat considered lawyer M L Sharma's submission that a direction for issuing a letters rogatory to collect fresh evidence relating to the deal be issued. He also referred to some media reports alleging that one billion Euros was paid by Dassault Aviation to a middleman to get the deal in its favour. The bench refused to consider the fresh PIL. Sharma then decided to withdraw the PIL. On December 14, 2018, the apex court had dismissed a batch of PILs challenging the deal between India and France for the procurement of 36 Rafale jets, saying there was no occasion to "really doubt the decision making process" warranting setting aside of the contract.
French aerospace major Dassault Aviation is the manufacturer of the Rafale jets while MBDA supplies the missile systems for the aircraft
The Congress on Tuesday once again accused the Modi government of indulging in corruption in the Rafale deal and said efforts were made to cover up the scam. The Rafale deal is the biggest scam in the country and the Modi government has continuously been misleading the country. The way the layers of the Rafale scam are being exposed, the truth of the Modi government is coming in front of the country, AICC national spokesperson Gourav Vallabh said. Vallabh also alleged that the central government lifted ban on the procurement from a company which had been dubbed as corrupt by ruling BJP leaders over the Agusta choppers scam. The company was banned by the UPA government but now the ban has been lifted, he told reporters here. Vallabh also alleged that former Comptroller Auditor General of India Vinod Rai and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was active in the Lokpal movement, conspired against the then UPA government. He called PM Narendra Modi the leader of ...
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi told party leaders to not stop or be afraid of fighting against the "corrupt" central government as the truth was with them at every step
Bharatiya Janata Party national spokesperson Sambit Patra on Tuesday slammed Congress for corruption in the Rafale deal between 2007 to 2012 and termed the party as ''I need commission"
Mediapart alleges Dassault paid at least €7.5 mn to middleman Sushen Gupta from 2007 to 2012 through 'overbilled' IT contracts with shell company to secure sale of jets
Rafale manufacturer Dassault Aviation and India's defence ministry have previously trashed allegations of any corruption in the contract
The aircraft were provided mid-air refuelling by the air force of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Rafale controversy reflects a systemic weakness in defence deals
Here are the best of Business Standard's opinion pieces for Tuesday
Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Monday said that Centre should take cognisance of the alleged "corruption" in the Rafale deal
The CPI(M) on Sunday demanded the constitution of a Joint Parliamentary Committee to investigate the role of the government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Rafale deal
A French judge has been appointed to lead a "highly sensitive" judicial probe into suspected "corruption" and "favouritism" in the Rs 59,000 crore Rafale fighter jet deal with India, a report said
A day after the Congress demanded a JPC probe into the Rafale deal, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday put out an online survey asking why the Modi government was not ready for it.
Congress has demanded a JPC probe into the Rafale deal, saying it is the only way forward to find the truth about 'corruption' in the purchase of the fighter jets
The Congress launched a scathing attack on the Centre
Here's a selection of Business Standard opinion pieces for the day
Rafale revelations demand robust govt response
Aerospace major Dassault Aviation on Thursday rejected fresh allegations of corruption in the Rafale fighter jet deal with India, saying no violations were reported in the frame of the contract.