French judge handed over probe into sale of Rafale jets to India

According to France's Prosecutor National Financial (PNF), the judge will look into the controversial agreement and will investigate corruption and kickbacks.

The PNF had initially refused to investigate the sale, prompting French investigative website Mediapart to accuse it and the French Anti-corruption Agency of “burying” suspicions surrounding the September 2016 deal.

French media and an NGO accused that the deal to buy 36 planes was finalised after the French aircraft manufacturer had bribed Indian officials. 

Opposition parties in India have also accused the deal of corruption.

The issue gained momentum in India when in September 2018, former French President Francois Hollande revealed that India had proposed to partner Anil Ambani's bankrupt company in the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets worth Rs11 trillion. 

After the revelations of the former French president, there was a stir in Indian politics and the president of the opposition party Congress, Rahul Gandhi, had also lashed out at the Modi government.

Rahul Gandhi had said that Anil Ambani's company was mired in debt of Indian-Rs450 billion. 

The 7.8-billion-euro ($9.3-billion) deal for 36 planes between the Government of India and French aircraft manufacturer Dassault has long been mired in corruption allegations.