Bofors case to be reopened

CBI to request US to seek information from private investigator Michael Hershman

New Delhi – The Bofors case may be reopened. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will soon send a court request to the US to seek information from American private investigator Michael Hershman in this case. Hershman had shown his readiness to provide important information about the Rs 64 crore (currently worth about Rs 1,000 crore) Bofors bribery scam of 1987 to the Indian agencies.

1. During the then Rajiv Gandhi Government, there was an allegation of taking bribes in a Rs 1,437 crore contract with Swedish firm Bofors for howitzer cannons.

2. The Delhi High Court had acquitted former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 2004. A year later, the court withdrew all charges against the remaining accused, including the Hinduja brothers. The alleged middleman, Ottavio Quattrocchi, was also acquitted by the court in 2011.

3. Officials said the process of sending the request letter began in October this year. The process could take about 90 days. Its purpose is to obtain information for the investigation of the case.