Supreme Court Finds No Irregularities In Rafale Fighter Deal

The Indian Supreme Court has ruled that no wrongdoing occurred in a decision to procure 36 French Rafale jets, reports the Times of India.

On Friday, the panel declined to order a government probe into allegations of corruption surrounding the deal. 

Judges noted that they have limited jurisdiction in reviewing defense deals.

After assuming control of the government in 2014, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) called off plans to acquire 126 of the jets after difficulties reaching an agreement with manufacturer Dassault on technology transfer, reported All India. 

The government later reached a deal for 36 jets at a higher unit cost, with all of the jets to be built in France. Critics of the deal say it was negotiated to secure an offset agreement for a company operated by an ally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

Members of opposition party say the company, Reliance, has no experience in the defense sector. 

In September, former French President Francois Hollande said Modi pressured France to choose Reliance over a competing state firm.

The opposition Congress party has said it will continue to press for a parliamentary investigation.