Rajiv named accused in Bofors case
Bhatnagar, 4 others chargesheeted
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Oct 22 — The Central Bureau of Investigation today charge-sheeted former Defence Secretary S. K. Bhatnagar, Wishweshwar Nath Chadha alias Win Chadha, Italian businessman Ottavio Quottrocchi, former Swedish Executive Martin Ardbo and Swedish arms manufacturer A. B. Bofors in the multi-dollar Bofors gun deal and alleged kickbacks case.

It was exactly nine years and nine months after filing of the sensational FIR that the bureau has accused former Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi, along with those named above of "conspiring, cheating and abuse of official position".

However, the bureau has not sent Rajiv Gandhi’s name for trial as he is no more.

The Congress spokesman, Mr Kapil Sibal described the charge sheet as a "13 political and legal" and said the party would give a formal reaction after perusing the document.

The BJP, on the other hand, expressed happiness over the filing of the charge sheet and asserted the guilty must be punished. The party General Secretary Mr M Venkaiah Naidu said that law was taking its own course and there was no political interference.

The bureau, in a press note, also said it was pursuing investigation to probe the role of the Hinduja brothers — G. P. Prakash and Srichand — Hersh Chadha, son of Win Chadha and Maria Quottrocchi, wife of Ottavio Quottrocchi, in the alleged kickbacks case.

In a 25-page charge sheet filed in the court of Mr Ajit Bharihoke, Special Judge, the bureau alleged that investigations conducted so far had revealed several acts of omission and commission by the above accused, which proved that they were party to a criminal conspiracy with some others during 1985-87.

In addition, the bureau has nearly 1,500 pages of annexure to the charge sheet which includes copies of documents procured from the Ministry of Defence and also of some accounts obtained from Swiss banks, a couple of years ago.

After perusing the charge sheet, the Special Judge fixed November 3 for further proceedings in the matter.)

The CBI is yet to receive a final set of documents in connection with another bank account which is pending in Swiss courts. The FIR in the case was filed on January 22, 1989.

The bureau today alleged that the object of conspiracy was to award the contract by the Government of India in favour A. B. Bofors for purchase of 400 of 155MM FH 77B howitzer gun system by abuse of their official position by the above said public servants and for causing wrongful gain to some persons and corresponding loss to the Government of India in the said gun deal.

"Investigations have disclosed that huge funds were disbursed by A. B. Bofors to W. N. Chadha and Ottavio Quattrocchi in their Swiss bank accounts in contravention of the clear understanding between Government of India and M/s A B Bofors that there would be no agents," the bureau said in its press note.

The bureau alleged that M/s Bofors had paid an amount equivalent to SEK 192,156,200 (approximately 27 million US dollars) during April 1986 and March 1987 in the name of M/s Svenska Inc, Panama in connection with the said deal with the Government of India.

"This has been found to have been credited to the personal account of Win Chadha in Swiss Bank Corporation, Geneva," the note said.

Similarly, another amount of SEK 540,63,966 (approximately US dollars 7.3 million) was paid by M/s Bofors to M/s A.E. Services Limited, UK. Investigation has disclosed that 97 per cent of this amount was transferred to the account of Colbar Investment Limited, Panama, controlled by Ottavio Quattrocchi in the Union Bank of Switzerland, Geneva.

The bureau said that it had been found that Win Chadha and Ottavio Quottrocchi had been transferring the said funds from one account to another account and from one jurisdiction to another to avoid detection.

The CBI said it relied upon 213 documents running into 2,500 pages and 83 witnesses in support of the charge sheet.

The bureau also said that efforts were being made to seek deportation/extradition of Quottrocchi, Chadha and Martin Ardbo who were residing abroad.

Further investigation is also going on through several Letters Rogatory sent to Switzerland, Sweden, Panama, Luxembourg, Bahamas, Jordan, Liechtenstien, Austria etc to probe the role of several other persons including G P Hinduja, Prakash Hinduja, Srichand Hinduja, Hersh Chadha and Maria Quottrocchi, the bureau said.

Bofors: A chronology

NEW DELHI, Oct 22 (UNI) — The following are the developments in the Bofors case leading to the filing of chargesheet by the CBI today: