The Supreme Court on Friday decided to take up the appeal in the Bofors case that was pending with it for almost 12 years, by October this year.
A request for urgent hearing in the case was made by advocate Ajay Agarwal who filed the appeal against the Delhi High Court order of May 31, 2005 quashing all charges against the london-based Hinduja brothers. Although the appeal was first admitted by the apex court on October 18, 2005, for 12 years, the matter was listed on several occasions but was adjourned for one reason or the other.
On Friday, the matter was listed before a Bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud. Agarwal sought urgent listing of the case. But the Bench posted the case for hearing in the week commencing October 30.
The HC had quashed all charges against the three Hinduja brothers — Srichand, Gopichand and Prakashchand, apart from the AB Bofors company. The HC even castigated the CBI for its handling of the case wondering why the agency spent Rs 250 crore for a scam worth Rs 64 crore only.
The court's direction to hear the appeal assumes significance in the wake of a demand in Parliament made by ruling BJP MPs for reopening of the probe into the Bofors kickback scandal after media reports quoted Swedish chief investigator Sten lindstrom of alleged bribery at the top level.
The scam relates to purchase of 400 150 mm Howitzer guns worth Rs 1,437 crore from Swedish arms manufacturer AB Bofors on March 24, 1986. The CBI registered a FIR on January 22, 1990 for the alleged offences of criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery under the Indian Penal Code and other sections of Prevention of Corruption Act against Martin Ardbo, the then President of AB Bofors, alleged middleman Win Chadda and Hinduja brothers.