Defence Ministry says the report is being verified, maintaining that neither Indian nor French government had any say in the decision.
He also cautioned against politicisation of defence purchases, suggesting that this had earlier led to the delay in the army acquiring the Bofors gun.
On Thursday, October 5, 2023, Indian Air Force aircraft rehearsed over the Sangam in Prayagraj in preparation for the 91st foundation day, October 8.
The court's remarks came when the petitioner said they were seeking a court-monitored CBI probe into the deal.
Dassault Aviation chief Eric Trappier has made it clear it would take at least three years to deliver 36 Rafales to the Indian Air Force.
Saab believes co-developing Tejas Mark II would end need for Rafale. Ajai Shukla reports
Macron, who assumed the presidency in May 2017, emphasised that this is a government-to-government discussion and "this contract is part of a broader framework which is military and defence" coalition between India and France.
He also called out Defence Minister Nirmala Sithraman for changing her stance on revealing the cost of Rafale.
Taking a dig at Pakistan without naming it, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said a country which was a supplier of aatank (terror) is struggling for aata (flour) these days.
Addressing a press conference in the nation's capital, he claimed that Verma's removal was an "insult" to the Constitution, the chief justice of India and the leader of the opposition.
The apex court at the same time made it clear that it does not want information on pricing and technical parameters relating to the fighter aircraft.
Referring to Modi's speeches in Parliament on Wednesday, he said it was clear that the prime minister was not interested in answering "fundamental questions".
Gandhi claimed that Modi will not be able to look him in the eye if the two debate the Rafale deal.
Dhanoa is a on a four-day visit to France to ramp up cooperation between the air forces of the two countries in a range of areas.
Oppn members raised slogans demanding a joint parliamentary committee probe into the issue.
The trio also accused PM Modi of single-handedly changing the parameters of the deal.
Congress said it expects the truth to prevail after the report on the Rafale deal is made public.
MoD dismissed the report saying it draws 'conjectural connection between tax exemption to a private company and procurement of Rafale jets'.
Rajesh Karkera/Rediff.com captures the spectacular aerial display by the Indian Air Force over the Mumbai shoreline.
Rahul targets the Modi government on Twitter, using the hashtag "BikGayaChowkidar".
Sources said the issues to be raised during the monsoon session of Parliament starting July 19 were discussed at a meeting of the Congress parliamentary strategy group on Wednesday, which was chaired by party chief Sonia Gandhi and attended by former prime minister Manmohan Singh and former Congress president Rahul Gandhi.
The report noted that the 2007 UPA deal included a 15 per cent bank guarantee against advance payments.
The debate on the Rafale jet fighter deal saw a head-on collision between the government and the Congress in Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
The Congress, which was not a petitioner before the apex court, wants the Rafale deal to be referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee to go into the price arrived at by the BJP government versus the one negotiated by the previous UPA regime, as also how billionaire Anil Ambani's group with virtually no experience in manufacture of fighter jets was selected as an offset partner for the deal.
An internal document shows Dassault Aviation considered Reliance offset deal as a 'trade off' to clinch Rafale deal'.
The Congress president had on April 10 claimed that the apex court has made it "clear" that Prime Minister Narendra Modi "committed a theft".
The apex court on December 14 last year dismissed a clutch of PILs, including the one filed by former Union ministers Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie and lawyer Prashant Bhushan, saying there was "no occasion to doubt" the decision-making process of the Centre in the procurement of 36 Rafale jets from France.
The Supreme Court's verdict on the Rafale deal spurred a war of words between the BJP and the Congress.
Rahul Bedi explains how 'miscellaneous' factors have posed a major hurdle in negotiating the Rafale deal.
The speech he gave in which he accused the Congress of getting black money in tempos from Ambani and Adani is remarkable.' 'It is a self-goal for sure, but indicates someone who has lost control, someone who is rattled.'
A huge political row broke out after Trinamool Congress leader Kalyan Banerjee derisively mimicked Dhankhar during the opposition's protest on the stairs of Parliament on Tuesday against the suspension of MPs, drawing strong condemnation from the ruling BJP.
The Congress has launched an offensive against the Bharatiya Janata Party government over the Rafale deal, alleging corruption and violation of rules by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demanded answers from him.
Randeep Surjewala also accused the government of "doublespeak" and "sacrificing" national interests.
"We are little perplexed that the two cases are listed on two different dates when the order was that these matters will be heard together," the bench said.
"How many more lies will be peddled to sustain a sinking dynast? India, certainly deserves better," Jaitley said.
With the Rafale fighter deal stuck over price negotiations, can the prime minister step in and find a way out for both countries?
HAL has integrated the ASRAAM (advanced short range air-to-air missile) for the Tejas Mark 1A. The Tejas Mark 1A will carry twin ASRAAM missiles with a range of 60 to 70 kilometres.
The AG said the country needs the Rafale jet to defend itself 'from F-16 fighter planes that recently bombed us'.
There is considerable discomfort within the defence ministry about the Rafale deal.
The petition by the trio came two weeks after the apex court had on October 10 asked the Centre to provide details of the decision-making process in the Rafale deal with France in a sealed cover by October 29.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances