The Congress party on Saturday slammed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the Rafale scam, after the French newspaper Le Monde reported that Anil Ambani’s company received a tax waiver worth 143.7 million Euros, a few months after Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi announced plans to buy 36 Rafale jets.
Congress national spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told the press, “Is PM Modi working as a middleman for ‘double-A’ (Anil Ambani)? Chowkidar chor hai (The watchman is a thief) and his theft has been caught.”
Surjewala alleged murky layers of ‘Corruption’ and ‘Money Trail’ are afoot in the Rafale scam. He cited a timeline of events to bolster his claims.
Randeep Surjewala alleged, “One of Anil Ambani’s company (Reliance Atlantic Flag France)… has another global company (Reliance Globalcom Limited) in Bermuda where the black money is transferred.”
Congress cited French newspaper Le Monde’s latest exposé, according to which Reliance Atlantic Flag France was investigated by French tax authorities twice and found liable to pay a total tax liability of 151 million Euros. Against this, Anil Ambani’s company wanted to settle it for a mere 7.6 million euros, which was rejected by the French.
“On March 23, 2015, Anil Ambani met French defence officials. Till then the contract to build 128 Rafale was with HAL. On April 10, 2015, PM Modi scraps the old Rafale deal and announces a new deal worth €7.8billion,” Surjewala said.
He added, “On 21 September 2018, former French President Francois Hollande had claimed that Reliance was offered as ‘Offset Partner’ by PM Modi, and they had ‘no choice’ but to accept it.”
“After the Rafale deal was signed, Anil Ambani’s 143 million tax was waived off (by the French) and he only paid seven million Euros (that he had offered to pay initially). Modi hai toh mumkin hai (Modi makes it possible)” Randeep Surjewala said.
Anil Ambani’s company is the “key partner” for Dassault Aviation for discharge of offsets. The total value of offsets from the deal is estimated at around Rs 30,000 crore.
Surjewala also said Dassault invested Rs 284 crore in Ambani’s zero sum (inactive) company Reliance Airport Developer’s Limited, as India started to make advance payments to Dassault, without receiving a single aircraft.
He added, “PM Modi is acting as middle man for Anil Ambani. How many other companies in France have received a tax benefit? Is this not a quid-pro-quo for the purchase of aircraft? It is clear ‘ek hi chowkidar chor hai’ (only one watchman is the thief).”
Anil Ambani’s company Reliance Communications admitted to Le Monde that French tax authorities did waive 143 million Euros in tax settlement, but has denied any “favouritism”.