Bofors Probe Was Called Off In Sweden To Save Rajiv Gandhi From Embarrassment, CIA Documents Reveal

Previously classified Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) documents, that were recently declassified after a mandatory period of 25 years, reveal that Swedish authorities called off the probe in Bofors bribery case because revelations related to the scandal could have caused embarrassment for Rajiv Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India.

“Stockholm wanted to save Gandhi the troubles caused him (sic) by the Swedish leak and Nobel industries wanted to avoid a bribery indictment. The two sides cooperated therefore on a scheme to keep details of the payments secret”, the documents read, noting that the authorities subsequently called off the probe after Rajiv Gandhi visited the country.

According to the Economic Times, these documents reveal that around $40 million was paid to middlemen in the deal. “Sweden claimed inability to track the payments through Swiss bank accounts after making a half-heated request for Swiss assistance,” the documents reveal.

The CIA report says the Indian and Swedish authorities worked closely to bulldoze the inquire. “Bofors almost certainly made payments - either straight to Indian officials or to middlemen who in turn paid off officials - to secure the $1.2 billion sale (sic) of howitzers,” the documents note.