Amid ongoing row over Rafale deal, a French anti-corruption NGO Sherpa has filed a complaint with the country’s financial prosecutor office demanding an investigation into alleged corruption in the fighter-jet deal.
Sherpa, in its complaint, has sought a clarification on the conditions under which 36 fighter aircraft produced by Dassault Aviation were sold to India in 2016 and the choice of its Indian partner.
"The complaint follows the complaint lodged on the 4th of October 2018 by a former Indian Minister and an anti-corruption lawyer with the Central Bureau of Investigation in New Delhi, against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "abuse of authority" and " grant of undue advantages " in connection with the sale of Rafale," said the NGO in a statement.
Sherpa also said that the National Public Prosecutor's Office should promptly investigate the seriousness of the facts and the presumptions on the reported offenses: potential corruption, grant of undue advantages, trading in influence, complicity of these offences, concealment of corruption and laundering of these offences.
"France cannot do less than India. Cooperation between both countries should be rapidly established, as it is always the case with international grand corruption investigation. Moreover, the hearing of great witnesses is possible and desirable, " said William Bourdon, founder of Sherpa.
The Rafale fighter is a twin-engine Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) manufactured by French aerospace company Dassault Aviation. India signed an agreement with France for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft in a fly-away condition as part of the upgrading process of the Indian Air Force equipment.
24/11/18 DNA
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Sherpa, in its complaint, has sought a clarification on the conditions under which 36 fighter aircraft produced by Dassault Aviation were sold to India in 2016 and the choice of its Indian partner.
"The complaint follows the complaint lodged on the 4th of October 2018 by a former Indian Minister and an anti-corruption lawyer with the Central Bureau of Investigation in New Delhi, against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "abuse of authority" and " grant of undue advantages " in connection with the sale of Rafale," said the NGO in a statement.
Sherpa also said that the National Public Prosecutor's Office should promptly investigate the seriousness of the facts and the presumptions on the reported offenses: potential corruption, grant of undue advantages, trading in influence, complicity of these offences, concealment of corruption and laundering of these offences.
"France cannot do less than India. Cooperation between both countries should be rapidly established, as it is always the case with international grand corruption investigation. Moreover, the hearing of great witnesses is possible and desirable, " said William Bourdon, founder of Sherpa.
The Rafale fighter is a twin-engine Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) manufactured by French aerospace company Dassault Aviation. India signed an agreement with France for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft in a fly-away condition as part of the upgrading process of the Indian Air Force equipment.
24/11/18 DNA
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