Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

India’s top court to hear Dassault jet deal

INDIA'S Supreme Court said today (10) that it will hear a request for an investigation into a £6.65 billion ($8.7bn) fighter jet deal with France's Dassault Aviation , in a setback for prime minister Narendra Modi's government.

As India heads into a general election on Thursday (11), the court agreed to examine new evidence published by newspapers after it rejected the petitions last December.


The published material was privileged defence documents, the government says.

"Preliminary objections of the Centre are dismissed," said the court, led by chief justice Ranjan Gogoi, referring to the federal government, adding that it would set a date for further hearings.

Modi, facing a tightening election, has vehemently denied opposition allegations of wrongdoing in the purchase of 36 Rafale planes and the government had asked the court to reject the petitions, citing national security.

The arms deal has been an election issue with Modi's chief rival, Rahul Gandhi, saying it exposed the claims of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government's assertions of running a clean administration.

Country’s law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, Wednesday's decision was not a setback for the government and the court had only agreed to consider new evidence.

"We are very sure that the review petition in the light of these facts would not be considered," he said, adding it would probably be dismissed.

Two former ministers of Modi's BJP and an activist lawyer seeking the investigation argued that the deal's escalating price should be investigated after documents relating to some aspects were published by ‘The Hindu’ newspaper.

The government told the court national security was at stake and the leak of the documents infringed the Official Secrets Act, a law dating to the colonial era.

A spokesman for Congress, Sanjay Jha, said, "The attempt by the Modi government to stonewall the Rafale scam probe has been scuttled by the Supreme Court."

(Reuters)

More For You

Nirmala Sitharaman

India's finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the Goods and Services Tax (GST) structure would be simplified from four slabs to two, with reductions across several sectors. (Photo: Getty Images)

India cuts consumption taxes, simplifies structure into two slabs

INDIA announced a major cut in consumption taxes on Wednesday, days after the United States imposed steep tariffs on Indian goods.

India's finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the Goods and Services Tax (GST) structure would be simplified from four slabs to two, with reductions across several sectors. In some cases, levies have been reduced by more than half.

Keep ReadingShow less
Jio Platforms

Jio Platforms includes India’s largest telecom operator, Reliance Jio Infocomm, with more than 500 million users. (Photo: Reuters)

Reuters

Jio IPO planned for mid-2026, AI unit announced with Meta and Google

RELIANCE Industries plans to take its telecom and digital arm, Jio Platforms, public by mid-2026, chairman Mukesh Ambani said on Friday. The announcement sets a new timeline for the long-awaited IPO of a business analysts value at over $100 billion.

At its annual general meeting (AGM), Reliance also announced the launch of an artificial intelligence unit in partnership with Google and Meta.

Keep ReadingShow less
Asda tech overhaul

Asda sales fell 0.2 per cent in the three months to June 30, 2025 (AFP via Getty Images)

AFP via Getty Images

Asda boss hails tech overhaul as key to revival despite sales slump

THE chairman of Asda has admitted the supermarket chain still faces challenges after sales slipped again over the summer, but said the completion of a major IT overhaul was crucial for its recovery.

Allan Leighton told the Times that the long-delayed technology project, called Project Future, had finally been finished after years of setbacks and costs exceeding £1 billion. The work involved separating more than 2,500 systems inherited from former owner Walmart, following Asda’s 2021 takeover by TDR Capital.

Keep ReadingShow less
JLR-Getty

A logo is pictured outside a Jaguar Land Rover new car show room in Tonbridge, south east England. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

UK car exports to US rebound after trade deal

UK VEHICLE exports to the United States rose in July after a new trade deal between London and Washington reduced tariffs, industry data showed on Thursday.

According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), exports increased 6.8 per cent in July to nearly 10,000 units, following three consecutive months of decline.

Keep ReadingShow less
Relatives of jailed Briton appeal to UK minister in AgustaWestland row

Christian Michel

Relatives of jailed Briton appeal to UK minister in AgustaWestland row

THE family of Christian Michel, the British businessman accused of acting as a middleman in the AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter deal, has appealed to the UK government to push for his release from Delhi’s Tihar Jail.

Michel’s relatives met Foreign Office minister Catherine West in London on Tuesday (26). The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said the minister listened to their concerns and updated them on ongoing steps being taken.

Keep ReadingShow less