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Lok Sabha
There is presently no proposal to revise the on-going contracts for the procurement of Mirage aircraft. The delivery of the Mirage aircraft is expected between November 2004 and January 2005. There is no cost escalation linked to the delivery of the aircraft between November 2004 and January 2005.
No case has been filed by any company against the Government of India in a court in Paris in regard to the procurement of Mirage aircraft.
The former Chairman, Public Accounts Committee, sent a letter mentioning, inter alia about a judgement of the French High Court of Justice in Paris against M/s Dassault Aviation/Thales, the manufacturers of Mirage aircraft, in respect of sale of 10 Mirage aircraft. The letter mentioned that the judgement of the French High Court purportedly required the vendors of the aircraft to pay a substantial amount as commission to agents.
Enquiries with the Embassy of India in Paris revealed that the case filed by one M/s Keyser against M/s Dassault Aviation, France before the Tribunal was rejected by the Commercial Court on 11th Sept 2002. An appeal filed by M/s Keyser against the order of the Commercial Court of Paris was subsequently withdrawn by them and the withdrawal was confirmed by the French Appellate Court on 24th Sept 2004. M/s Dassault Aviation had also confirmed compliance with Government of India’s requirement regarding non-engagement of agents.
This information was given by the Defence Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee in a written reply to Shri Jyotiraditya M Scindia and others in Lok Sabha today.
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