Rafale Deal scam: Rejecting the claims made by Dassault Avaiation CEO Eric Trappier in an interview with news agency ANI, senior Congress leader Randeep Surjewala has said that dedicated interviews and manufactured lies cannot suppress the Rafale scam. Soon after Trappier’s interview started making headline, Surjewala took to Twitter and called it ‘dedicated interviews’ and ‘manufactured lies’. “Dictated Interviews & Manufactured Lies cannot suppress the #Rafale Scam! First rule of Law- Mutual Beneficiaries & Co-accused’s statements hold no value. Second Rule:-Beneficiaries & Accused can’t be Judge in their own case. Truth has a way of coming out,” he tweeted.

Earlier in the day, Dassault CEO rubbished allegations made by Congress Party president Rahul Gandhi that the former lied about the details of the Dassault- Reliance Joint Venture (JV) for offset contracts in the Rafale Jet deal. “I don't lie. The truth I declared before and the statements I made are true,” he said.

“I don't have a reputation of lying. In my position as CEO, you don't lie,” said Trappier when asked to respond to Rahul Gandhi's charge that Dassault was covering up for possible cronyism in awarding the offset deal to Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group. Trappier further said that they had prior experience dealing with the Congress party and the comments made by the Congress president made him sad.

“We have a long experience with the Congress party. Our first deal was with India in 1953 with Nehru and other Prime Ministers. We have been working with India. We are not working for any party. We are supplying strategic products like fighters to the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Government. That is what is most important,” said Trappier.

During his interaction with the news agency, Trappier also clarified about the investments being made by Dassault, adding that Reliance would match the amount since the shareholding pattern is 49 per cent Dassault and 51 per cent Reliance as per prescribed Government norms.

"We are supposed to put in this company together about Rs 800 crore as 50:50. For the time being, to start work in the hangar and to pay workers and employees, we have already put Rs 40 crore. But it will be increased to Rs 800 crore, which implies Rs 400 crore by Dassault in the coming five years," he added.

Speaking about the pricing issue, the CEO said that the present aircrafts are cheaper by 9 per cent. “Price of 36 was exactly the same when you compare with 18 flyaway. 36 is the double of 18, so as far as I was concerned, it should have been double the price,” Trappier said.

Rahul Gandhi, in a press conference on November 2, alleged that Dassault invested Rs 284 crore in a loss-making company promoted by Anil Ambani which was used to procure land in Nagpur. “It is clear the CEO is lying. If an inquiry starts on this Modi is not going to survive it. Guaranteed,” added Gandhi.