Whose Scam Was It Anyway? SC Quashes CBI Petition Challenging Discharge Of Hinduja Brothers In Bofors Case

Supreme Court has quashed a petition by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) challenging Delhi High Court order which discharged Hinduja Brothers from the Bofors case, PTI has reported.

The Supreme Court said that it was not convinced by the grounds given by CBI for the delay in filing an appeal. Instead, it asked the agency to file a review petition in Delhi High Court itself. The case was heard by a bench led by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi.

The Bofors deal involves Rs 1,437-crore purchase of Swedish arms from AB Bofors. India had planned to buy 400 units of 155-mm Howitzer guns for the Indian Army in 1986. In April 1987 the Swedish Radio had claimed that AB Bofors had paid bribes to top politicians and defence personnel in India.

The CBI had registered an FIR in 1990 against Martin Ardbo, the then chief of the company AB Bofors under Prevention of Corruption Act. Win Chadda and the Hinduja brothers who were considered to be middlemen in the case were also named in an FIR. Hinduja brothers were named in a supplementary charge sheet in the case was filed in October 2000.