Bofors scam: CBI seeks permission from government to reopen probe

NEW DELHI: In a significant development, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has sought permission to file a special leave petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court against the discharge of accused involved in the infamous Bofors scandal.

The agency has sought permission from Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) to file an appeal in the Apex Court. The move assumes significance since the agency had maintained before a Parliamentary Committee that it was denied the permission to move the Supreme Court by the then UPA government.

Top government sources said that the agency has written to the DoPT seeking a go ahead to appeal against the High Court order dated May 31, 2005. Vide this order the Delhi High Court had quashed the charges against the accused involved in the Bofors case. The Europe based Hinduja brothers were let off by the Delhi High Court vide the said order.


The agency had maintained before a Parliamentary Committee that it was keen to appeal against the Delhi High Court order in 2005. But the then UPA government did not agree to it. The agency had also told the Public Accounts Committee that it wanted that the Bofors case reaches its logical conclusion. It might be mentioned here that the agency, earlier this week, had issued a press statement following the “revelations” made by private detective Hershman.

The detective in his television interviews had claimed that Rajiv Gandhi, the then Prime Minister, was “furious” after he had learnt about a Swiss bank account, which allegedly held the bribe money for the gun scandal.

An existing SLP hanging fire in the Supreme Court is likely to come up for early hearing this month. Bofors hit national headlines in 1987. Accusations of bribes being paid for buying the Swedish artillery gun embroiled the then Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi and late Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, considered to be family friend of Nehru-Gandhis, who then as now run Congress.

If CBI’s request, to file an SLP, is allowed by the DoPT it would give fresh ammo to the agency to reopen the case.