Rafale deal: French judge to probe corruption allegations in sale to India

The investigation will look into allegations of corruption and favouritism in the pact for 36 fighter planes between the Indian government and French aircraft manufacturer Dassault.

A French judge has been appointed to lead a judicial probe into the Rafale fighter jets deal worth 7.8 billion euros. The financial crimes branch of the French public prosecution services (PNF) has said that the investigation will look into allegations of corruption and favouritism in the pact for 36 fighter planes between the Indian government and French aircraft manufacturer Dassault. The development came following a series of investigations done by French publication Mediapart and a subsequent complaint filed by the French NGO Sherpa. A similar complaint filed earlier by Sherpa was rejected by the PNF in 2018.