Trouble for Modi and Macron, French Judge opens criminal probe Into Rafale deal with India

In a major development into the controversial Rafale deal, a French judge has been appointed to lead a judicial probe into alleged corruption and favouritism in the 7.8 billion euro sale to India of 36 rafale aircraft, Mediapart, a french website, said in a news report.

Yann Philippin, Investigative reporter, of Mediapart revealed that the “highly sensitive probe” into the 2016 inter-governmental deal was formally opened on June 14 following a decision by the financial crimes branch of the French public prosecution services, the PNF.

The investigation into irreglurarties has been initiated in the wake of a series of investigative reports published by Mediapart in April 2021 about the deal, including the role of a middleman whose disclosures India’s Enforcement Directorate is reportedly aware of but has not bothered to investigate so far.

After the expose, the French anti-corruption NGO Sherpa filed a complaint with the tribunal of Paris, citing “corruption”, “influence peddling”, “money laundering”, “favouritism” and undue tax waivers surrounding the deal, reported Mediapart.

PNF has confirmed that the newly opened investigation will focus on all four of the alleged crimes.

The PNF’s decision to seek a formal probe represents a U-turn from the stand it took in 2019. At that time, its head, Eliane Houlette, going against the advice of one of her staff and without carrying out any investigations, dismissed an initial complaint filed by Sherpa. The reason she cited to justify her decision was “to preserve the interests of France”.

The criminal investigation will also examine questions regarding the actions of former French president François Hollande, who was in office when the Rafale deal was signed, and the current French president Emmanuel Macron, who was Holllande’s economy and finance minister at the time, as well as the then defence minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, now Macron’s minister for foreign affairs.

Dassault Aviation has constantly denied any wrongdoing in the entire deal and said that it has adhered to the norms of OECD Anti-Bribery Convention and national laws. The company has not as yet reacted to this development.

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