New Delhi, July 22: The Europe-based Hinduja brothers today claimed before the Delhi High Court that immediately after the Swedish radio broke the news about Bofors scandal in April 1987, Indian ambassador in Stockholm confirmed it from the Swedish arms manufacturers that no commissions were paid to anybody in the Rs 1437 crore gun deal. "Immediately after the Swedish radio broke the news in April 1987 that some Indian politicians were paid bribes in the Howitzer gun deal, Indian ambassador in Stockholm B M Ojha Got in touch with the Bofors executives and they told him that no bribes were paid to anyone to secure the contract," Hindujas' counsel Ram Jethmalani told Justice J D Kapoor.
Jethmalani also showed to the court the statement of Ojha recorded by the CBI, in which the then ambassador had quoted Bofors officials as having denied paying commissions to anyone.
The Hinduja brothers - Srichand, Gopichand and Prakashchand - have challenged the November 2002 order of special judge Prem Kumar framing charges against them in the Rs 64 crore Bofors pay-off case.
In its supplementary chargesheet filed in October, 2000, CBI accused the Hindujas of receiving illegal commission to the tune of 81 million Swedish Kroner (Rs 14 crore) from Bofors in violation of terms and conditions of the contract signed by the government with the Swedish company

Bureau Report