Rafale deal: Anil Ambani files Rs.5000 crore defamation suit against National Herald
New Delhi, Aug 26 (IBNS): Anil Ambani's Reliance Group has filed a Rs. 5000-crore defamation suit against the National Herald, which is owned by the Congress for an article on the Rafale deal, media reports said.
According the the Reliance Group, the article is "libellous and derogatory."
The suit was filed on Saturday and the court has sought reply from the National Herald by Sept 7.
Earlier, Anil Ambani wrote to Congress President Rahul Gandhi over allegation regarding the Rafale fighter jet deal and said his party has been 'misinformed, misdirected and misled by malicious vested interests and corporate rivals.'
In his letter to Rahul, Anil had expressed deep "anguish over continued personal attacks" by Rahul on him and termed all allegations as “baseless, ill-informed and unfortunate.”
Anil had clarified to Rahul that Rafale fighter jets are not being manufactured by Reliance or the Dassault Reliance Joint Venture.
"All 36 planes are to be 100% manufactured in France, and exported from France to India," he had clarified.
The Reliance Group chairman had stated that not a single component worth a single rupee is to be manufactured by his company for these 36 Rafale jets.
"The allegations relating to lack of experience are, thus, irrelevant," said Anil.
In his letter to Rahul, Anil had stated: “There is no contract from the MoD to any Reliance Group company related to 36 Rafale aircraft.”
“Our role is limited to offset exports / export obligations. More than 100 medium, small and micro enterprises (MSMEs) will participate in this, along with public sector undertakings like BEL and Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO). This role strengthens Indian manufacturing capabilities, and is in pursuance of the Offsets Policy introduced by the Congress-led UPA Government itself from 2005 onwards,” said Anil.
He added that Rahul’s allegation that Reliance Defence was set up 10 days before the 10 April 2015 announcement in Paris by both Governments—of the intention to purchase 36 French-manufactured Rafale jets—links factually incorrect information, and is thus 'irrelevant' and 'completely false.'
“The Reliance Group announced its decision to enter the defence manufacturing sector in December 2014-January 2015, months before the intention for purchase of Rafale aircraft. In February 2015, we informed the Indian Stock Exchanges of the companies we have incorporated," Anil had wrote in his letter.
Rahul has been attacking the Narendra Modi government over the deal and alleged that the same had caused a loss of Rs 41,000 crore to the exchequer as compared to the price negotiated by the Congress-led UPA government.
He has also made allegations about the offsets.
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