The opening of a judicial investigation in France into thecontroversial 2016 purchase of 36 Rafale aircraft from Dassault Aviation by theBJP government at the Centre has raised fresh doubts and questions about thedeal. The French investigation is about the alleged corruption, influencepeddling, money laundering and undue tax waivers and favouritism in the dealthat would examine the actions of the then President François Hollande andother ministers. The investigation was ordered following disclosures by aFrench news website about the role of an Indian middleman in the deal and othermatters. The investigation has led to demands in India for a JointParliamentary Committee probe. The SC had not given a clean chit to the centralgovernment in the matter. It had also rejected a petition seeking a CBIinvestigation into the deal. Fresh information that has now come to lightstrengthens the demand for an investigation. Congress leaders had allegedirregularities in the deal and had demanded an investigation. There is mentionof a middleman in the deal, though the government has always maintained thatthere was none.
