The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has sent a letter of rogatory (LR) or a judicial request to the United States, seeking information and evidence from a private investigator Michael Hershman, who had expressed willingness to share all the crucial information regarding the Rs 64 crore Bofors bribery scandal of 1980s with the indian agencies.
According to reports, the CBI approached Delhi High Court to reopen the case following Hershman’s interview and on october 18, 2024, the LR was initiated and after court’s approval, it was sent in february. The CBI has also informed the special court hearing the agency’s plea for further probe into the alleged bribery case about the recent developments.
How Everything Started?
Following the defense deal between the United States and Pakistan for F-16 fighters in the early 1980s, India urgently demanded to upgrade its own military, including a 155mm howitzer system. A negotiating Committee was established under then Defence Secretary S.K. Bhatnagar, which, in November 1985, shortlisted Swedish manufacturer AB Bofors and France’s Sofma as the best choices for the howitzer. Eventually, AB Bofors secured the contract.
The Bofors Deal and the Role of Middlemen
In 1986, the Indian government, led by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, signed a $1.4 billion (Rs 1,437 crore) deal with AB Bofors for the410 FH-77B 155mm howitzer guns. The contract was intended to modernize Indian artillery in the face of Pakistan’s purchase of F-16 fighter planes. However, it was later alleged that bribes worth Rs 64 crore bribes were paid to Indian politicians and defense officials to secure the contract.
The scandal first came to light in 1987 when Swedish radio reported that AB Bofors had paid kickbacks to Indian politicians and middlemen. Investigations also revealed that Swiss businessman and arms dealer Ottavio Quattrocchi, who had close ties with the Gandhi family, played a key role in facilitating the bribes. The bribes were allegedly made through shell companies and foreign bank accounts.
The Rise and Fall of Rajiv Gandhi
At first, Rajiv Gandhi was hailed as a visionary leader, bringing fresh energy and modernization to India’s governance. Dubbed as a “wise man” for his economic liberalization policies, technology adoption, and his efforts to promote transparency, he had a reputation of a clean politician.
But all went against him in the Bofors scandal. The controversy led to intese political turmoil, and Congress leaders themselves started revolting against Rajiv Gandhi. Senior leaders like Vishwanath Pratap Singh, who was the Finance Minister, resigned and turned against him. The opposition, led by Singh and others, capitalized on the corruption allegations, branding the Congress government as unreliable.
A turning point in the scandal was the meeting between Rajiv Gandhi and Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme in 1986 in New Delhi. Palme, known for his emphasis on transparency, had reportedly been reluctant about unethical deals. But after being assassinated in February 1986, doubts were raised if Palme’s killing had anything to do with the arms deal. Although no direct evidence connected the two events, conspiracy theories surrounding his death added to the cloudiness of the Bofors controversy.
THE COLLAPSE
The scandal became a major issue in the 1989 general elections. Opposition parties united under the banner of the National Front, led by VP Singh, making corruption a central theme of their campaign. The Congress government, which had possessed a historic mandate with well over 400 seats in the Lok Sabha, suffered a humiliating defeat and Rajiv Gandhi lost his status as prime minister, and VP Singh took over as India’s new Prime Minister.
Over the years, multiple investigations were conducted into the Bofors scandal, with the CBI and other agencies attempting to gather evidence. However, political interference and judicial challenges hampered the process. Moreover, the Congress-led governments in later years made efforts to downplay the case, and in 2004, the Delhi High Court dismissed all charges, due to lack of evidence.
Even after the dismissal of the case, it remained a significant issue in Indian politics and kept coming back whenever allegations of corruption were raised against the Congress party. The recent move by the CBI to send an LR to the United States seeking information from Hershman suggests that the case might not be entirely closed.
The Bofors scandal is a reminder of how corruption can undermine national interests and erode public trust in political leadership. The Congress government, particularly under Rajiv Gandhi, faced severe backlash for its alleged involvement in the scam, leading to its downfall and even decades later, the ghost of Bofors continues to haunt Indian politics.
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