Congress president Rahul Gandhi. (Photo/INC)
On a when Dassault Aviation Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Eric Trappier dismissed any wrongdoings in Rafale fighter jet deal with India, Congress president Rahul Gandhi continued his attack over the issue claiming Prime Minister Narendra Modi has admitted to 'theft' in the defence contract.
Rahul Gandhi claimed the Centre, on Monday,submitted a 14-page document titled "Details of the steps in the decision making process leading to the award of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft order" to the Supreme Court.
"Modi ji has admitted to his theft in the Supreme Court. In the affidavit, he admitted to changes in the contract without asking the Air Force and put Rs 30,000 crore in Ambani's pocket. The picture is still to come my friend," Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.
He also tagged a news report, alleging that the government in its affidavit before the Supreme Court has thrown up more "wrong doings" in the Rafale deal.
The Centre disclosed to the Supreme Court the pricing details for the 36 Rafale jets that were negotiated on "better terms" and said it "completely followed" the Defence Procurement Procedure laid out in 2013 and secured approval of the Cabinet Committee on Security.
The submission by the Centre was made in the 14-page document that has since been made public.
However, the pricing details provided in a sealed cover remained in the custody of the top court. The court will peruse both the documents and take up the matter on Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, Dassault CEO dismissed allegations made by Rahul Gandhi that the former lied about the details of the Dassault-Reliance Joint Venture (JV) for offset contracts in the Rafale Jet Deal.
"I don't lie. The truth declared before and the statements I made are true. I don't have a reputation of lying. In my position as CEO, you don't lie," Trappier said in an interview with news agency ANI.
The Dassault CEO's response on Rahul Gandhi's charge that Dassault was covering up for possible cronyism in awarding the offset deal to Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group.
In a press conference earlier this month, Rahul Gandhi had accused French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation of paying 'first tranche of kickbacks' of Rs 284 crore to Anil Ambani. He also reiterated his allegations of massive corruption in the Rs 58,000 crore Rafale deal.
