The Bofors scam of 1980 was a political scandal that involved the purchase of artillery guns from a Swedish arms manufacturer named Bofors AB by the Indian government.
The scandal was uncovered in the late 1980s, and it had a significant impact on Indian politics and the defense industry.
Here is a timeline of the events, main accused characters, how the scam took place, who exposed the scam, coverage of the scam, current status, and aftermath of the scam:
In 1980, the Indian government signed a contract with Bofors AB to purchase 410 howitzer guns.
In 1984, the Indian army received the guns, and allegations of corruption in the deal surfaced in the media.
In 1987, the Swedish Radio alleged that Bofors AB had paid kickbacks to Indian officials to secure the contract.
In 1989, an investigation was initiated by the Indian government, and several high-ranking officials were arrested.
In 1991, the Congress party lost the general election, and the new government continued the investigation.
In 1997, the case was closed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) due to lack of evidence.
In 2004, the case was reopened after new evidence surfaced.
In 2011, the Delhi High Court quashed all charges against the accused, stating that the CBI had failed to provide sufficient evidence.
In 2019, the Supreme Court dismissed a petition seeking a review of the case.
Ottavio Quattrocchi – an Italian businessman and close associate of the Gandhi family, who was accused of acting as a middleman in the deal.
Win Chadha – an Indian businessman who was alleged to have received the kickbacks on behalf of Indian officials.
Rajiv Gandhi – the then-Prime Minister of India, who was alleged to have received kickbacks in the deal.
Bofors AB won the contract to supply 410 howitzer guns to the Indian army, and it was alleged that the company paid kickbacks to Indian officials to secure the deal.
The kickbacks were allegedly paid through intermediaries, and the money was transferred to Swiss bank accounts.
The exact amount of money involved in the Bofors scam is not clear, but it is estimated to be around Rs. 64 crore (approximately $16 million at the time of the scandal in the 1980s).
This was the alleged amount of kickbacks paid by Bofors AB to secure the contract to supply howitzer guns to the Indian army.
However, the actual amount of money involved in the scam may be higher or lower than this estimate, and it remains a matter of speculation.
The Bofors scam was exposed by the Swedish Radio in 1987.
The radio station alleged that Bofors AB had paid kickbacks to Indian officials to secure the contract. The Indian media also played a significant role in exposing the scandal.
The Bofors scam was widely covered by the Indian media, and it became a major political issue.
The opposition parties demanded an investigation, and the Congress party was accused of corruption. The scandal had a significant impact on Indian politics and the defense industry.
The Bofors scam is considered to be one of the biggest corruption scandals in Indian history.
The case has been closed and reopened several times over the years, and many of the accused have either passed away or been acquitted.
The scandal had a significant impact on Indian politics, and it contributed to the downfall of the Congress party. The case has also highlighted the need for more transparency and accountability in defense deals.
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