Fate of High Profile Crimes in Criminal Justice System
The Bofors chronology
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/arti ... page-1.cms
PTI 4 February 2004
NEW DELHI: The 18-year old Bofors case has finally reached the last lap of investigation with the Delhi High Court upholding cheating and conspiracy charges against the Hinduja brothers. The story so far:
March, 24, 1986: The Rs 1,437-crore contract between Indian Government and Swedish company A B Bofors signed for supply of 400 Howitzer field guns (155mm).
April 16, 1987: Swedish Radio claims A B Bofors paid kickbacks to top Indian politicians and key Defence officials to secure the deal.
Jan 22, 1990: CBI registers FIR in the case.
Jan 26, 1990: Swiss authorities freeze bank accounts of Swenska (front company of accused W N Chadha) and A E Services (front company of accused Ottavio Quattrocchi).
December 1992: Supreme Court reverses a Delhi High Court decision quashing the FIR in the case.
July 12 1993: Swiss Federal Court rules that India was entitled to Swiss Bank documents pertaining to the kickbacks.
Jan 21, 1997: After four years, secret documents running into over 500 pages given to Indian authorities in Bern.
Oct 22, 1999: CBI files first chargesheet naming Chadha, Quattrocchi, former Defence Secretary S K Bhatnagar, former Bofors Chief Martin Ardbo and Bofors company. Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's name figured as "an accused not sent up for trial" as he was no more to face trial.
Nov 07, 1999: Trial court issues arrest warrants against Quattrocchi while summoning the other four accused.
March 18, 2000: Chadha comes to India to face trial and granted bail but asked not to leave India.
Sept 29, 2000: Hindujas claim that funds received by them from Bofors had no connection with the Howitzer gun deal.
Oct 09, 2000: CBI files supplementary chargesheet naming Hinduja brothers - Srichand, Gopichand and Prakashchand - as accused in the case.
Jan 19, 2001: Hinduja brothers granted bail by Special Court but asked not to leave India. Later, Supreme Court allowed them to visit abroad.
Middle of 2001: Trial of accused Quattrocchi and Ardbo separated from that of the other accused.
Oct 24, 2001: Chadha dies of cancer. Another accused Bhatnagar passes away the same year.
April 19, 2002: Special Court dismisses Hinduja brothers' plea to quash chargesheet for want of CVC's clearance.
June 10, 2002: Delhi High Court quashes CBI chargesheet against Hindujas reversing the Special Court order.
September 2002: Supreme Court allows CBI appeal against the HC order and restores the chargesheet against Hindujas.
Nov 14, 2002: Special Court frames charges against three Hinduja brothers and Bofors company.
Sep 30, 2003: Delhi High Court reserves its verdict on the appeal filed by Hindujas and Bofors challenging the trial court order framing charges against them.
Feb 04, 2003: HC upholds cheating and conspiracy charges against Hindujas but quashes the corruption charges against them.
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It is not good to harass anybody: PM on Quattrocchi case
PTI 2 May 2009,
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Indi ... 476305.cms
NEW DELHI: Rejecting criticism of the decision to remove Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi from Interpol's list of wanted people, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday said it was "not good" to "harass" any person when the "world says we have no case".
He said the Quattrocchi case has been an "embarrassment" for the Indian government as it has failed to get him extradited from Malaysia and Argentina where courts have said "we don't have a strong case" against him.
"It is not a good reflection on the Indian legal system that we harass people while the world says we have no case," Singh told in a television interview.
The government recently withdrew the name of Quattrocchi, who is an accused in the alleged Bofors scam, from the Red Corner Notice, drawing sharp criticism from opposition parties.
The Prime Minister said before the matter was referred for withdrawal, Interpol had asked India why Quattrocchi was being kept under the Red Corner Notice.
Subsequently, the issue was referred to the law ministry which sought the opinion of the Attorney General, Singh said, adding, "The AG said there is no case for keeping the Red Corner Notice. Even now the issue is before the court."
