No case made out, say Hindujas

No case made out, say Hindujas
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

NEW DELHI, NOV 20: The three Hinduja brothers today raised a series of objections to the chargesheet filed against them by the CBI in the Rs 64 crore Bofors case, saying there was "no sufficient ground" to proceed against them in the case.

The London-based Hinduja Group chairman, S C Hinduja, his brothers G P Hinduja and P P Hinduja sent a team of lawyers to the court of Special Judge Ajit Bharihoke, when he took up the question of cognizance of the chargesheet filed against them on October nine.

Even as the CBI counsel opposed their plea, the lawyers for the Hindujas sought an opportunity to be heard by the court before it decides the question of cognizance.

After arguments lasting more than an hour, the court adjourned the hearing for December 5, while directing the CBI to respond to the Hindujas' plea.

In its 11-page supplementary chargesheet filed in the court, the CBI had accused the Hindujas of receiving 81 million Swedish Kroners from Swedish arms manufacturer A B Bofors, which had supplied 155 mm Bofors guns to India.

In an unusual move, the Hindujas raised a number of objections at the preliminary stage itself, with their counsel Arvind Nigam saying that CBI had not obtained sanction from the government for his clients' prosecution which was required as the offence was committed outside the country.

Special prosecutor N Natarajan argued that this was not the stage for the accused to appear before the court and argue on the merits of the case. The accused would get ample opportunities to defend their case later, he said.

In his response, Nigam cited several Supreme Court and High Court rulings in support of his plea that an accused could appear before the court on his own.