Court frames charges in Bofors case

A special court today formally framed charges against the Hinduja brothers and arms manufacturer AB Bofors for criminal conspiracy, cheating...

A special court today formally framed charges against the Hinduja brothers and arms manufacturer AB Bofors for criminal conspiracy, cheating and corruption.

With the accused pleading ‘‘not guilty’’ to the charges levelled against them, Special Judge Prem Kumar fixed December 4 for the beginning of trial. While Srichand, Gopichand and Prakashchand Hinduja were formally charged today, their counsel U.A. Rana pleaded ‘‘not guilty’’ to the charges on their behalf. For AB Bofors, its representative Ajit Kishore claimed trial. Kishore represents the company as accused during the court proceedings.

The court, in its order, said that the Hinduja brothers had obtained payment from Bofors as commission — to which they were not entitled to — by use of corrupt and illegal means or by use of office by public servants S.K. Bhatnagar and Rajiv Gandhi. The Swedish arms manufacturer was accused of cheating the government by claimimg that its gun system was the cheapest and the best and that there were no agents in the deal.

Story continues below this ad

The company was also accused of engaging agents such as Win Chadha and Quattrochi and the Hindujas. They were also charged with making false representations. Charges were framed under Section 420 for cheating.

The judge framed common charges of criminal conspiracy (Section 120B) and cheating (Section 420) under IPC and Sections 5(1)(D) and 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 against the accused.

As soon as the charges were formally framed, Bofors counsel Alok Sengupta requested the special judge to give at least five weeks time to the accused to prepare themselves for the trial.

However, the counsel for Hindujas urged the court to commence trial from Monday, saying: ‘‘We want to prove our innocence as soon as possible.’’