New Delhi (TIP): A French judge has been appointed to lead a judicial probe into the alleged “corruption and favouritism” in the 7.8 billion euros (approx Rs 59,000 crore) worth Rafael deal with India for the sale of 36 Dassault-built fighter jets. The financial crimes branch of the French public prosecution services (PNF) has said that the investigation will look into allegations of corruption and favouritism in the pact for 36 fighter planes between the Indian government and French aircraft manufacturer Dassault. French publication Mediapart on Friday, July 2,  reported that the criminal investigation, formally opened on June 14, will be led by an independent magistrate “who will, among other elements, examine questions surrounding the actions of former French president François Hollande. “The highly sensitive probe into the inter-governmental deal signed in 2016 was formally opened on June 14, Mediapart reported.

Former French president Hollande was in office when the Rafale deal was inked, and current French president Emmanuel Macron, who was at the time Holllande’s economy and finance minister.

The development came following a series of investigations done by Mediapart and a subsequent complaint filed by the French NGO Sherpa. A similar complaint filed earlier by Sherpa was rejected by the PNF in 2018.

Source: India Today