Chronology of Bofors scandal

TIMES OF INDIA – JAN 3, 2011

NEW DELHI: Following is the chronology of events in the Bofors howitzer payoff
scandal:

March 24, 1986: A $15 billion contract between the Indian government and Swedish
arms company AB Bofors is signed for supply of over 400 155mm Howitzer field guns.

April 16, 1987: Swedish Radio claims Bofors paid kickbacks to top Indian politicians and
key defence officials to secure the deal.

April 20, 1987: Then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi assures the Lok Sabha that no
middleman was involved and no kickbacks were paid.

Aug 6, 1987: Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) set up under B. Shankaranand to

probe allegations of kickbacks.

July 18, 1989: JPC report presented to parliament.

November 1989: Congress defeated in Lok Sabha election.

Dec 26, 1989: Prime Minister V.P. Singh's government bars Bofors from entering into
any defence contract with India.

Jan 22, 1990: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registers complaint in the case.

Jan 26, 1990: Swiss authorities freeze bank accounts of Svenska and AE Services, which
allegedly received unauthorised commissions for the deal.

Feb 17, 1992: Journalist Bo Anderson's sensational report on the Bofors payoffs case
published.

December 1992: Supreme Court reverses a Delhi High Court decision quashing the
complaint in the case.

Feb 9, 1993: Supreme Court rejects former Bofors agent Win Chadha's plea for quashing
the letters rogatory sent by the trial court to its counterpart in Sweden seeking assistance
in the case.

July 12, 1993: Swiss federal court rules that India was entitled to Swiss bank documents
pertaining to kickbacks.

July 29/30, 1993: Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, who represented Italian
fertiliser firm Snam Progetti for years, leaves India to avoid arrest.

Jan 21, 1997: After four years of legal wrangles, secret documents running into over 500
pages given to Indian authorities in Berne.

Jan 30, 1997: CBI sets up special investigation team for the case.

Feb 10, 1997: CBI questions ex-army chief Gen Krishnaswamy Sundarji.

Feb 12, 1997: Letters rogatory issued to Malaysia and United Arab Emirates (UAE)
seeking arrest of Quattrocchi and Win Chadha.

May 1998: Delhi High Court rejects Quattrocchi's plea for quashing of 'red corner' notice
issued by Interpol at CBI request.

Oct 22, 1999: CBI files first chargesheet naming Win Chadha, Quattrocchi, former Indian
defence secretary S.K. Bhatnagar, former Bofors chief Martin Ardbo and Bofors
company. Rajiv Gandhi's name figures as "an accused not sent for trial" -- as he was
assassinated in 1991.

Nov 7, 1999: Trial court issues arrest warrants against Quattrocchi, while summoning
other four accused.

Dec 13, 1999: CBI team goes to Malaysia to seek extradition of Quattrocchi; fails.

Early 2000: Quattrocchi approaches Supreme Court to quash arrest warrant against him.
The court asks him to appear before the CBI for interrogation while protecting him from
being arrested. Quattrocchi refuses to accept the order.

March 18, 2000: Chadha comes to India to face trial.

July 29, 2000: Trial court issues "open non-bailable arrest warrants" against Ardbo.

Sep 4, 2000: Chadha moves Supreme Court for permission to go to Dubai for treatment.
Supreme Court rejects plea.

Sep 29, 2000: Hindujas issue statement saying funds received by them from Bofors had
no connection with the gun deal.

Oct 9, 2000: CBI files supplementary chargesheet naming Hinduja brothers as accused.

Dec 20, 2000: Quattrocchi arrested in Malaysia, gets bail but is asked to stay in the
country.
Aug 6, 2001: Former defence secretary Bhatnagar dies of cancer.

Oct 24, 2001: Win Chadha dies of heart attack.

Nov 15, 2002: Hinduja brothers formally charged with cheating, criminal conspiracy and
corruption.

Dec 2, 2002: Malaysian court denies India's request for Quattrocchi's extradition.

July 28, 2003: Britain freezes Quattrocchi's bank accounts.

Jan 4, 2004: Swiss authorities agree to consider CBI request to provide Quattrocchi's
bank details.

Feb 4, 2004: Delhi High Court clears Rajiv Gandhi of involvement in scandal.

May 31, 2005: Delhi High Court clears Hindujas of involvement.

Dec 31, 2005: CBI tells Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), London, that it has not been
able to link the money in two accounts of Quattrocchi with Bofors kickbacks.

Jan 7, 2006: Two accounts of Quattrocchi in London banks containing 3 million euros
and $1 million are defreezed after then additional solicitor general B. Dutta met CPS
lawyers.

Feb 6, 2007: Quattrocchi detained in Argentina on Interpol lookout notice.

Feb 13, 2007: CBI writes to ministry of external affairs for Argentinean Extradition Act
and tells Interpol that documentation are being prepared for extradition proceedings.

Feb 24, 2007: Fresh arrest warrant against Quattrocchi obtained from Delhi court.

Feb 26, 2007: Quattrochhi released on bail with condition that he does not leave
Argentina.

Feb 28, 2007: Two-member CBI team leaves for Argentina.

March 1, 2007: Argentinean judge examines CBI application seeking Quattrocchi's

extradition.

March 23, 2007: Hearing of extradition plea begins in Argentine court.

June 8, 2007: Court in El Dorado rejects extradition request.

October 2008: Attorney General Milon Banerjee opines that CBI can withdraw Red
Corner Notice against Quattrocchi.

Nov 25, 2008: Red Corner Notice withdrawn.

April 30, 2009: CBI seeks time from trial court to decide future course of action against
Quattrocchi.

Sep 8, 2009: CBI seeks two weeks time from trial court to explore options against
Quattrocchi.

Sep 29, 2009: Government tells Supreme Court about decision to withdraw case against
Quattrocchi.

Dec 14, 2010: A Delhi court reserves order till Jan 4, 2011 on a plea of CBI seeking to
drop criminal proceedings against Quattrocchi.

Jan 3, 2011: An Income Tax tribunal rules that commission in violation of Indian laws
was indeed paid to Quattrochi and Chadha in the gun deal that cost the national
exchequer Rs.412.4 million some 23 years ago.

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