Government also gave the pricing details in a closed envelope.
The government on Monday made public a redacted version of the decision-making process and induction of Indian offset partner that it submitted to SC in a sealed cover. This pertains to the Rafale deal where the SC on October 31 asked government to share details regarding buying of 36 Rafale jets to petitioners which could go into public domain. As regards the offset partner, centre said that the contract doesn't mention any Indian business house.
According to report, the Centre has also furnished the exact pricing detail of the Rafale jets to the SC judges in a sealed envelope. Centre has also told SC that Dassault Aviation is yet to formally convey the details of Indian offset partners. Hence the Centre is yet to be briefed about the exact role of Reliance Defence as per affidavit.
The government in its affidavit has said that the process as laid down in Defence Procurement Procedure-2013 was followed in the procurement of Rafale aircraft, The document says that approval of Defence Acquisition Council for buying aircraft was taken, and the Indian team negotiated with French side. Documents say negotiations with French side went for about a year and approval of Cabinet Committee of Security was taken before signing the agreement. It further reiterated that government had no role in the selection of offset partners for Dassault Aviation.
The Supreme court had earlier asked the government to share pricing and strategic details of Rafale fighter-jet aircraft in a sealed envelope.The top court has directed the Centre to submit details about the pricing of Rafale jets and it's advantages in 10 days.
The Attorney General objected to this demand claiming this information is not privy even to Parliament.The court also asked to supply the information to petitioners which can be put in public domain. "Details considered strategic and confidential may be shared in a sealed cover with the court," said the CJI headed bench.
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. The Rafale fighter is a twin-engine Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) manufactured by French aerospace company Dassault Aviation.
Indian Air Force had advanced a proposal to buy 126 fighter aircraft in August 2007 and floated a tender. Following this, an invitation was sent to various aviation companies to participate in the bidding process. Rahul Gandhi and his Congress party have been attacking the government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Rafale deal, alleging corruption and favouritism.The Government has dismissed Gandhi's allegations, while the BJP has accused him of spreading lies on the issue.
With agency inputs
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