12 years after Delhi HC quashed Bofors case, CBI seeks govt nod to reopen files

In a move to reopen litigation in the Bofors scandal 12 years after the Delhi HC quashed all proceedings against the Hinduja brothers in the case, the CBI has sought the government's permission to challenge the 2005 ruling in the Supreme Court. In a letter to the government, the CBI has sought the permission to file a Special Leave Petition against the High Court ruling, which will overturn the stand taken by the UPA government.

As reported by The Indian Express on September 2, the CBI in a June 22 intimation to the Central Agency Section of the Department of Legal Affairs (Ministry of Law and Justice), stated that it did not file the SLP since it did not get permission from the then competent authority. The note stated: "The CBI as the investigating agency was of the view that SLP should be preferred against order of the Delhi High Court dated 31st May 2005 quashing all proceedings against Hinduja brothers. However, since permission for filing SLP was not accorded to the CBI by the competent authority, no SLP was preferred."

The CBI also looped in the sub-committee of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, looking into the Bofors scandal. Meanwhile, on Wednesday union minister Smriti Irani criticised the Congress and challenged it to prove its innocence in the case. She sought a clarification from the Congress on the interviews given by private detective Michael Hershman who unravelled a Swiss bank account where the alleged Bofors bribe money was said to have been parked.

The CBI on Wednesday assured that it will look into the allegations levied by Hershman. On May 31, 2005, justice R S Sodhi had quashed all charges against the Hinduja bothers and the Bofors company and also pulled up the CBI for its handling of  the case. 

• india
• bofors
• cbi
• supreme court