“The petitioners are also trying to interlink an unrelated issue and create controversies on the basis of certain media reports. The Centre said the claim that Anil Ambani’s Reliance had been offered tax concessions as part of the Rafale deal was based on unsubstantiated media reports. “The reference to a matter supposedly under consideration for investigation in France as mentioned by the applicant is apparently based on unsubstantiated media reports,” the affidavit said. Citing internal reports of the defence ministry, The Hindu newspaper had reported that the defence ministry had objected to parallel negotiations by the government. “The Government remains committed to provide to this Hon’ble Court any document or file which it desires to peruse.

Source: The Telegraph May 05, 2019 07:30 UTC