As the controversy surrounding Rafale deal escalates in media and parliament, here is an explainer and a timeline relating to this controversial deal. We have attempted to list the controversies surrounding the deal and the reason Anil Ambani reportedly wrote to Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi. The Begining The story started around 6 years back when The Indian Air Force expressed its requirement for a new twin-engine fighter jet in order to replace the aging Russian fighters that are being phased out. After testing and scrutinizing a number of global options, the Air Force in 2012 put the Rafale, built by France’s Dassault, and the Eurofighter Typhoon on its final list. The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government had put out a tender for 126 fighter jets and, because of a lower bid offer, had planned to buy 18 Rafales in fly-away condition from Dassault, with the remaining to be built in India along with the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limi...