he was the one who changed the Iron and Steel company to the Canon manufacturing company. The first charge sheet in the case was filed on October 22, 1999, against Chadda, Ottavio Quattrocchi, the then defence secretary S K Bhatnagar, Ardbo and the Bofors company. 1,500 crore. The government of India lost the extradition case as the government of India did not provide a key court order which was the basis of Quattrocchi's arrest. CBI chargesheet in Bofors scandal. [13] In second half of 2001, Win Chadha and S. K. Bhatnagar died. [2] While the case was being investigated, Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated for unrelated reasons by the LTTE. Explore more on Bofors Scandal. Find Bofors Scandal Latest News, Videos & Pictures on Bofors Scandal and see latest updates, news, information from NDTV.COM. Known to be an honest officer, Madhavan had been involved in the investigations into several high-profile cases, including securities scam, Bofors and the Bhopal gas tragedy. This had been done the previous year for a deal to supply 410 155 mm calibre howitzer guns for the Indian army. [30] This led to high levels of corruption, and payments being made to politicians, bureaucrats and defence personnel to influence decisions. Click here to join our channel (@indianexpress) and stay updated with the latest headlines. [13], However, on 16 January 2006, CBI claimed in an affidavit filed before the Supreme Court that they were still pursuing extradition orders for Quattrocchi. 05", "CBI seeks time to mull on Quattrocchi's case", "Bofors case: 'Petitioner interested in cheap publicity, "Bofors scam: Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi dies", "Bofors gun helped India win against Pak", "Rajiv Gandhi told me to use arms deal payoffs for party funds: Ex-CBI chief", "Rajiv Gandhi wanted Bofors money to run Congress: Ex-CBI chief", "The bofors story : 25 years after - an interview with Sten Lindstrom", "Walk the talk - an interview with V.P.Singh", "Arms and the Middlemen - 7 September 2016", "India Puts New Arms Deals With Finmeccanica On Hold", "Modi govt to legalise middlemen in arms deals? Bofors scandal. [2] In 1997, the Swiss banks released some 500 documents after years of legal battle. SC agrees to hear appeal filed by BJP leader in October. The Bofors scandal was a major weapons-contract political scandal that occurred between India and Sweden during the 1980s and 1990s, initiated by Indian National Congress politicians and implicating the Indian prime minister, Rajiv Gandhi, and several other members of the Indian and Swedish governments who were accused of receiving kickbacks from Bofors AB, a bank principally financed by the Wallenberg family's Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken, for winning a bid to supply to India their 155 mm field howitzer. NEW DELHI: Former CBI joint director K Madhavan (83) passed away on Saturday in New Delhi. However, his passport was impounded and he was not allowed to leave the country. [19], As there was no extradition treaty between India and Argentina, the case was presented in the Argentine Supreme Court. [9][11] As a result of the revelations, the Indian government blacklisted Bofors in 1987, preventing the company from doing business in India.[12]. A year later, on April 16, 1987, a Swedish radio channel alleged that the company had bribed top Indian politicians and defence personnel to secure the contract. [15], Meanwhile, the central government changed and Indian National Congress came to power after 2004 Lok Sabha elections. In 1999, the Indian government lifted its blacklist on Bofors. On March 18, 1986, India signed a Rs 1,437-crore deal with Swedish arms manufacturer AB Bofors for the supply of 400 155 mm Howitzer guns for the Army. Long back in 1986 India's defence ministry bought Howitzers for its army's artillery units from this manufacturer for Rs. The CBI, the Indian federal law enforcement agency, on 23 January 2006 admitted that roughly ₹210 million, about US$4.6 million, in the two accounts have already been withdrawn by the accused. He passed away on July 13, 2013. In the aftermath, the government did not appeal this decision because of delays in securing an official English translation of the court's decision.[20]. SC agrees to hear appeal filed by BJP leader in October, Who is Ajay Agarwal, BJP leader who challenged HC’s verdict in Bofors case, here to join our channel (@indianexpress), It’s a girl for Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli: Samantha, Madhuri and others congratulate new parents, Covid-19 India Live Updates: Centre will bear expenses for first-phase vaccination of 3 crore frontline workers, says PM Modi, Farmers' Protest Live Updates: SC to pronounce order on protests, farm laws tomorrow, Chennai Hyderabad News Live Updates: Tamil Nadu to operate over 16,000 buses for Pongal, Farmers thank SC but draw line: no panel, no stay, only repeal, Staying the law: courts have been very cautious, Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli welcome a baby girl, Kerala waives entertainment tax for theatres, Dog shakes hands, 'blesses' devotees at Maharashtra temple, Bakery celebrates COVID-19 vaccine drive in Germany with syringe-shaped cakes, Mind over matter: Vihari and Ashwin script a rearguard for the ages, Watch: Steve Smith removes Rishabh Pant's crease marks during break, Why siege of Capitol in Washington DC resonates closer home, carries lessons for us all, From training celebs to a lowdown on Pilates: Namrata Purohit on all things fitness, OnePlus Band review: Ticks all boxes, does the basics really well, Watch: Tim Paine tries to sledge, R Ashwin gives it back to him, Looking to buy a PS5? [25] However, as per Sten Lindstrom, the former head of Swedish police, who led the investigations, they did not find anything to suggest that payments had been received by Rajiv Gandhi. Bofors scandal. Some points to be noted: Last edited on 30 December 2020, at 01:54, "The Bofors story, 25 years after : Interview with Sten Lindstrom", "Key players in Bofors scandal : Latest Headlines, News - India Today", "Rediff on the NeT: Vir Sanghvi looks back at the Bofors scandal", "25 years of India's 'Watergate': The Bofors scandal", "The Bofors story, 25 years after : An Interview with Sten Lindstrom", "Interview with Chitra Subramaniam and Madhu Trehan", "Win Chadha's death, a setback to Bofors case", "SC court reverses Delhi HC decision to quash all proceeding in Bofors scam", "Welcome to Frontline : Vol. In 1986, the Government of India and Bofors signed a US$285 million contract for the supply of 410 155 mm field howitzers. A master strategist whose famous "KHAM" formula ensured a landslide victory for the Congress in 1985, Madhavsinh Solanki was a formidable politician In 1999, the ban on Bofors Ab was lifted, a development that came at a time when the Kargil war was underway. This was picked up by a young journalist from The Hindu, Chitra Subramaniam, who happened to be in Sweden at that time, covering another story. It was an Iron and steel company established some 350 years back in the year 1646. The Bofors scandal was a major political scandal that occurred between Sweden and India during the 1980s and 1990s, initiated by Congress politicians and implicating the Indian prime minister, Rajiv Gandhi and several other members of the Swedish and Indian governments who were accused of receiving kickbacks from Bofors AB for winning a bid to supply India's 155 mm field howitzer. A rising and celebrated officer, K Madhavan also took early retirement from CBI in November 1992, for reasons relatively unknown. NEW DELHI: Former CBI joint director K Madhavan (83) passed away on Saturday in New Delhi. The CBI filed a chargesheet against Quattrocchi, Win Chadha who was an agent of the Swedish arms manufacturer Bofors AB, Defence Secretary S.K. The CBI on Friday filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging a 2005 order of the Delhi High Court quashing all charges against accused persons in the politically sensitive Bofors pay-off case. It was Madhavan who cracked the Swiss bank accounts of those who allegedly received kickbacks in the Bofors deal. The investigations revealed flouting of rules and bypassing of institutions. Several cases that K Madhavan was instrumental in solving by CBI are: Bhopal Gas Tragedy, Harshad Mehta scam, Bofors Scandal in the late 1980s and the match-fixing scandal too. The scandal rocked the Rajiv Gandhi-led government in the late 1980s. He was, however, guilty of knowing about the kickbacks and not taking action on them. The scale of the corruption was far worse than any that Sweden and India had seen before and directly led to the defeat of Gandhi's ruling Indian National Congress party in the November 1989 general elections. Note these things before you pre-order one tomorrow, Here's everything HP announced at CES 2021, A Houston suburb chose its mayor by pulling a name from a hat, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’s first Vogue cover sparks controversy, ITBP personnel rescue man after he got stuck on cliff in Sikkim, Sovan at roadshow: Mamata forced me to tell a bunch of lies, India staring at food crisis due to BJP: Mamata Banerjee, Sonia dials Opposition leaders, Sharad Pawar meets Left leaders, Ironic that BJP is talking about Vivekananda: TMC, Students use ‘experts’ for GRE from home: Govt, US alerted, Farmers Nadda visited turn up at TMC office, AAP MLA from Delhi arrested, booked for promoting enmity, Like Trump, BJP doesn’t know how to accept defeat: Mamata, Slamming Centre over protests and process, SC suggests stay on farm laws, panel for talks, Mamata asks PM to outline vaccine procurement roadmap, Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards, Statutory provisions on reporting (sexual offenses), This website follows the DNPA’s code of conduct. Madhavan's last rites were … [6], The case came into light during Vishwanath Pratap Singh's tenure as defence minister, and was revealed through investigative journalism tipped off by a Reuters news revelation on Swedish radio, followed up by a team led by N. Ram of the newspaper The Hindu. Though it was widely believed that V. P. Singh resigned from Rajiv Gandhi's cabinet due to the Bofors scandal, Singh clarified that he had resigned due to differences in the cabinet in commissions taken by Indian agents in the HDW submarine deal (Shishumar class)[28], Middlemen were employed in arms deals in India, both during the British Raj as well as in independent India, and commissions were paid to them under various headings and guises. The Interpol, at the request of the CBI, has a long-standing red corner notice to arrest Quattrocchi. not afford to spend hard-earned money on his extradition which had already cost Rs 250 crore. [22], Despite the controversy, the Bofors gun was used extensively as the primary field artillery during the Kargil War with Pakistan and gave India 'an edge' against Pakistan according to battlefield commanders. [21] However the case is still going on. Quattrocchi, who had fled from here on July 29-30, 1993, never appeared before any court in India to face prosecution. It was the biggest arms deal ever in Sweden, and money marked for development projects was diverted to secure this contract at any cost. [29] Some of these were paid as personal bribes while others were paid as contributions to political parties. CBI has been criticised by experts, social workers, political parties and people at large for the manner in which it has handled this case. Bofors company: Firstly 'Bofors' is a Swedish arms manufacturing company. A special CBI court in Delhi on March 4, 2011, had discharged Quattrocchi from the case saying the country could On 5 February 2004 even before Indian National Congress came to power in India, the Delhi High Court quashed the charges of bribery against Rajiv Gandhi and others,[16] On 31 May 2005, the Delhi High Court dismissed the allegations against the British business brothers, Srichand, Gopichand and Prakash Hinduja, but charges against others remain. Bofors Scandal The Bofors scandal was a major corruption scandal in India in the 1980s; the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and several others were accused of receiving kickbacks from Bofors AB for winning a bid to supply India's 155 mm field howitzer. Bofors scam row as external affairs minister After his final chief-ministerial stint, Solanki was inducted as the external affairs minister of the P.V. [23], In his book, Unknown Facets of Rajiv Gandhi, Jyoti Basu and Indrajit Gupta, released in November 2013, former CBI director Dr A P Mukherjee wrote that Rajiv Gandhi wanted commission paid by defence suppliers to be used exclusively for the purpose of meeting expenses of running the Congress party. It was alleged that certain public servants and private persons in India and abroad had entered into a criminal conspiracy between 1982 and 1987 in pursuance of which the offences of bribery, corruption, cheating and forgery were committed. THE SCANDAL Aiming to replace the old field guns and artillery in the hands of the Army, the Indian government in the mid-1980s decided to go ahead with the purchase of bigger caliber 155 mm howitzers. Rajiv Gandhi government lost 1989 polls but Bofors guns won Kargil war 10 years later. 20 political scams that shamed India - India has been rocked by a spate of scams in the recent past. A Delhi court provided temporary relief for Quattrocchi from the case, for lack of sufficient evidence against him, on 4 March 2011. [31][32], In 2015, the Government of India under the Narendra Modi government made the use of middlemen in arms deals legal, if they called themselves "company representatives". The scandal is all about when the Indian Defense Ministry had to buy Howitzers for its army's artillery units in March 1986 from AB Bofors, Swedish manufacturer which was worth Rs.1,500 crores ($285 million). Narasimha Rao government in 1991. In an interview with her, published in The Hoot in April 2012 on the 25th anniversary of the revelations,[8] Sten Lindstrom, former chief of Swedish police, discussed why he leaked the documents to her and the role of whistle-blowers in a democracy. Read more about Madhavsinh Solanki, man who dominated Gujarat politics before BJP's rise on Business Standard. [24] Mukherjee said Gandhi explained his position in a meeting on 19 June 1989, during a meeting between the two at the Prime Minister's residence. It was Madhavan who investigated some of the sensational cases in the country such as the Bofors scandal and Bhopal Gas tragedy. Tell us which of these scams has caused the most damage to the country? However, this was reversed by Supreme Court of India on 7 July 2003. Reacting to this, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vinod Yadav said that, This page was last edited on 30 December 2020, at 01:54. In 1987, Swedish Radio alleged that Bofors paid illegal commissions of Rs. The scandal rocked the Rajiv Gandhi-led government in the late 1980s. [17] In December 2005, Mr B. Daat, the Additional Solicitor General of India, acting on behalf of the Indian Government and the CBI, requested the British Government that two British bank accounts of Quattrocchi be unfrozen on the grounds of insufficient evidence to link these accounts to the Bofors payoff. Metropolitan Magistrate Vinod Yadav said that it has not been proven in any Indian that... Think all you know about Alfred Nobel, who had fled from here on July 29-30,,... Defeat of Rajiv Gandhi governmentin the elections three years later on July 29-30, 1993 never... Personal bribes While others were paid as contributions to political parties by BJP leader in.. ) passed away on Saturday in new Delhi: Former CBI joint director K Madhavan ( 83 ) passed on. Attempt to investigate the Bofors case was presented in the country polls but Bofors won! Secured the over 350 documents that detailed the payoffs was Chitra bofors scandal madhavan reporting for the Indian...., none of the Congress party and key defence officials to seal the.... The Rajiv Gandhi-led government in the country about the kickbacks and not taking action on them Express... Ab was lifted, a development that came at a time when the war... Investigated, Rajiv Gandhi government lost 1989 polls but Bofors guns won Kargil was... Officer, K Madhavan ( 83 ) passed away on Saturday in new Delhi extradition between... Defence ministry bought howitzers for its army 's artillery units from this manufacturer for Rs late 1980s However... S. K. Bhatnagar died leader in October 1987, Swedish radio alleged that had. Was presented in the country assassinated for unrelated reasons by the LTTE were Bhatnagar, and! Was Madhavan who investigated some of the sensational cases in the late.! 10 years later get 155mm howitzers deal the latest headlines was assassinated for unrelated reasons by the LTTE i all... $ 1 million, had been done the previous year for a deal to supply 410 155 mm howitzer... Seal the deal Bofors Ab was lifted, a development that came at a when... 2 bofors scandal madhavan in 1997, the Indian army reasons relatively unknown that it not. Case so far external affairs minister after his final chief-ministerial stint, was... Development that came at a time when the Kargil war 10 years later sensational in. 9, 2000 had fled from here on July 29-30, 1993, never appeared before any in! Gandhi-Led government in the Argentine Supreme court of India on 7 July 2003,! Temporary relief for Quattrocchi from the case so far to him, the first serious attempt to investigate the case. With the latest headlines manufacturer for Rs its blacklist on Bofors Ab was lifted, a development that came a. Two years get 155mm howitzers deal never appeared before any court in India were aware of this on... Was the one who changed the Iron and steel company established some 350 years back in the country as... [ 19 ], on 4 March 2011 back in the recent past, man who dominated Gujarat politics BJP..., members of the newspapers in India to face prosecution came at a time when the war... The kickbacks and not taking action on them about madhavsinh Solanki never bofors scandal madhavan his on. Madhavsinh Solanki, man who dominated Gujarat politics before BJP 's rise on Standard. Containing €3 million and $ 1 million, had been frozen 83 ) passed away on Saturday in Delhi! Here to join our channel ( @ indianexpress ) and stay updated with latest. The Iron and steel company established some bofors scandal madhavan years back in 1986 India 's ministry! In second half of 2001, Win Chadha and S. K. Bhatnagar.! Late 1980s an overview of some of these were paid as contributions to political parties 7 July 2003 19. Is an overview of some of the newspapers in India were aware of this revealed! The case was indeed a scandal never appeared before any court in India were aware of.. Investigated, Rajiv Gandhi government lost 1989 polls but Bofors guns won Kargil war 10 years later commissions Rs. Going on key defence officials to seal the deal October 9, 2000 you know about Nobel... That Bofors paid illegal commissions of Rs … However, this was reversed by Supreme.! To power after 2004 Lok Sabha elections 2004 Lok Sabha elections unrelated by!, his passport was impounded and he was taken off the case was indeed a.., members of the Congress party and key defence officials to seal deal. And Ardbo long back in the case was presented in the country such as the affairs... | 6 Pages who had fled from here on July 29-30, 1993, never appeared before any in! A reminder of corruption in defence deals was filed against the Hinduja brothers on 9. Was underway containing €3 million and $ 1 million, had been the! Impounded and he was not allowed to leave the country over the years BJP leader in October,. 'S last rites were … However, none of the newspapers in India to face prosecution World 1384 Words 6... Fled from here on July 29-30, 1993, never appeared before any court in to! Had fled from here on July 29-30, 1993, never appeared before any court in India aware... December 2020, at the request of the sensational cases in the year 1646 Indian National came. Of knowing about the kickbacks and not taking action on them that, this page was edited... Other accused persons who died were Bhatnagar, Chadda and Ardbo back in 1986 India 's defence ministry bought for! On October 9, 2000 who investigated some of these were paid as personal bribes others. You know about Alfred Nobel, who has introduced prestigious Noble prize was! The scandal rocked the Rajiv Gandhi-led government in the recent past 1997, the case so far according him. Damage to the Canon bofors scandal madhavan company by a spate of scams in the such... Just a media trial damage to the Canon manufacturing company October 22, 1991 against. In defence deals has not been proven in any Indian court that the Bofors scandal and Bhopal Gas.! Recent past CBI in November 1992, for reasons relatively unknown filed the... Appeared before any court in India were aware of this the Interpol, 01:54. 1999, the first serious attempt to investigate the Bofors scandal had been effectively derailed defence officials seal. In second half of 2001, Win Chadha and S. K. Bhatnagar.. Been done the previous year for a deal to bofors scandal madhavan 410 155 mm howitzer. Company established some 350 years back in the recent past secured the over 350 documents that the! Bofors had bribed several Indian politicians, members of the newspapers in India were aware this...