Rafale Deal: Prashant Bhushan, Arun Shourie met CBI Officials
Lawyer Prashant Bhushan and former Union Minister Arun Shourie met CBI Director Alok Verma on October 4, demanding an investigation into the alleged corruption in the Rafale deal and offset contract.
Arun Shourie and Lawyer Prashant Bhushan submitted a 32-page complaint under the Prevention of Corruption Act, which emphasized the reasons why the alleged deal needs to be investigated.
“The CBI may have to seek an approval from the government before registering an FIR if specific officials are named. As I understand, it is not required for a preliminary inquiry,” said Lawyer Prashant Bhushan.
Allegations made in the complaint which are needed to be Investigated as per the duo are:
- The complaint has alleged the foreign secretary had no clue of the details of Rafale renegotiations till two days before PM Modi made the announcement.
- The complaint has also alleged that the new deal was signed without following due process and that renegotiated price was kept very high to ensure maximum benefit to Ambani.
- The complaint has also mentioned a recent interview of then French president Francoise Hollande where he has said that Ambani was chosen as offset partner on the insistence of the Indian government and the French government had no choice.
Lawyer Prashant alleged that Anil Ambani- owner of Reliance has been provided ‘undue advantage’. He even pointed out that the offset deal can be clearly watched out as a deal extended to benefit the newly formed Reliance Aeronautical Company.
Opposition parties have already alleged PM Modi for corruptions in the Rafale deal and now two renowned, well- educated people have approached the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for further probe of the Rafale and offset deal.
Centre has been repeatedly denying its role in the Rafale deal. Serious allegations of corruption are laid on the government. The government which came into power quoting ‘No to Corruption’, but such serious allegations put the government in a bad position.
