Rahul Gandhi: Dassault paid ₹284 crore to Anil Ambani’s Reliance Defence as kickback

Stepping up the attack on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Rafale deal, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday, November 2, said that if there was nothing to hide Modi would have ordered an inquiry into the decision to purchase fighter jets from France.

"If an inquiry starts on this (Rafale deal), Modi is not going to survive it. guaranteed," Gandhi said at a press conference at the party headquarters.

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi alleged that Dassault Aviation paid ₹284 crore to Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence as the "first installment of kickbacks" and claimed Prime Minster Narendra Modi was having "sleepless nights" fearing action if a probe was conducted into the Rafale deal.

He also alleged that CBI chief Alok Verma was removed as he wanted to investigate the deal.

There was no immediate reaction from the government and Ambani on the fresh charges made by Gandhi. However, they have previously rejected all allegations made over the Rafale deal.

“The CEO is lying, the big question is why a company would invest ₹284 crore in a company with a capital of just over ₹8 lakh and is loss making. It is clear cut that this (investment) is the first instalment of kickback given by Dassault,” said Gandhi citing a media report that the French defence major invested approximately 40 million euros or Rs 284 crore to buy stakes in a loss making company of Anil Ambani.

"So why is Dassault CEO lying, because he is trying to protect one person the person who runs this country...Modi," said Gandhi. “Rafale is an open and shut case and there is only one man who has done corruption,” he said.

This copy was updated at 4.40 pm to reflect a change in the headline