India News

Citing inordinate delay, SC dismisses CBI plea against discharge of Hinduja Bros in Bofors case

Published

8 years ago

November 2, 2018

A CBI plea challenging 2005 Delhi High Court order discharging Hinduja brothers in Rs 64 crore Bofors kickbacks case was dismissed by the Supreme Court today (Friday, November 2).

The CBI in its petition had blamed the UPA government for its silence all these 13 years. Interestingly, it chose to take it up when the Narendra Modi government faces elections in a few months and is under attack over Rafale deal.

The SC bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said the special leave petition (SLP) by the CBI had been “filed after an inordinate delay” and that it was not convinced with the grounds given by the CBI filing the appeal against the Delhi High Court verdict after so many years.

“We are not convinced… we do not like to entertain,” Chief Justice Gogoi told Attorney General KK Venugopal, representing the CBI.

However, the court said that the CBI, which is a party in an identical appeal filed by a private person, advocate and BJP worker Ajay Agarwal, against the High Court order discharging the billionaire Hinduja brothers – Srichand, Gopichand and Prakash. That appeal is still pending in the Supreme Court and the court suggested that CBI court argue its grounds in that appeal.

The Bofors arms deal, worth Rs 1,437-crore, was made between India and Swedish arms manufacturer AB Bofors for the supply of 400 units of 155-mm Howitzer guns for the Indian Army on March 24, 1986, when the late Rajiv Gandhi was Prime Minister of India.

Revelations by the Swedish Radio, on April 16, 1987, that AB Bofors had allegedly paid bribes to top Indian politicians and defence personnel to secure the deal, had kicked up a political storm against the Rajiv Gandhi government in India and the ensuing tirade by Opposition leaders of the time, and Rajiv’s estranged ministerial colleague, VP Singh, is still believed to be the biggest trigger for the Congress’ defeat in the 1989 Lok Sabha polls.

The CBI had registered an FIR in 1990 against Martin Ardbo, the then chief of AB Bofors for alleged offences of criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery under the Indian Penal Code and other sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act. FIR was registered against alleged middleman Win Chadda and the Hinduja brothers also. The first charge sheet in the matter was filed on October 22, 1999 against Chadda, Ottavio Quattrocchi, the then defence secretary SK Bhatnagar, Ardbo and the Bofors company. A supplementary charge sheet in the case was filed against the Hinduja brothers on October 9, 2000.

A special CBI court, on March 4, 2011, discharged Quattrocchi from the case, saying the country could not afford to spend hard-earned money on his extradition which had already cost Rs 250 crore. Later, on May 31, 2005, the Delhi High Court had also discharged the Hinduja brothers from the case.

Challenging the order, the CBI accused the UPA-I government for the delay in filing this appeal against a scam which “jeopardised national and public interest”, said a report in The Hindu.

In a separate application seeking to explain the delay of a dozen years, the CBI said it wanted to challenge the “legally unsustainable” order of the High Court, but the UPA-I government of the time denied it permission to come to the Supreme Court.

“While the petitioner-CBI was of the view that the impugned order is legally unsustainable and should be challenged before this Hon’ble Court, ultimately a decision was taken not to challenge the impugned order on the basis of the views expressed by the Government of India and the law officers who dealt with the matter at that stage, as the Government denied permission to the CBI to approach this Hon’ble Court,” the application said.

Further, the agency cited a development in 2017 which “fundamentally alters the landscape” in the Bofors scam case and said it was the primary reason for it to approach the Supreme Court.

This “most significant development” is an interview given by Michael Hershman to an Indian TV channel. “In the said interview, Mr. Hershman has stated that he is in possession of material which would show the payment of bribes in the Bofors deal, and that the involvement of powerful persons may be the reason for the checkered history of this case. The statements made by Mr. Hershman go to the very root of the matter,” the CBI told the apex court, while placing on record the transcript of the interview.

The CBI said it has already moved the trial court concerned under Section 173 (8) of the Criminal Procedure Code for further investigation in the case. But the 2005 High Court order stands as a roadblock and the SC has to remove it, hence the appeal.

It said the High Court quashed the proceedings in an arbitrary manner saying that the documentary evidence obtained by the CBI from authorities in Sweden were “neither available in original nor as duly authenticated copies”.

The High Court had said it would be “cruel joke on the accused to expose them to a long and arduous trial and waste public time and money” on the basis of such evidence.

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MEA responds after ITBP chief flags ongoing face-offs with China in Arunachal

India said deviations by Chinese forces from established patrolling patterns periodically disturb the situation along the Line of Actual Control, as the government addressed remarks by the ITBP chief about ongoing face-offs in Arunachal Pradesh.

Published

12 hours ago

October 23, 2026

APNLive Desk

India on Friday said that deviations by Chinese forces from established patrolling patterns periodically disturb the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) made the remarks amid reports of continuing face-offs between Indian and Chinese forces at multiple locations in Arunachal Pradesh.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed the issue during a regular media briefing on October 23, following remarks by Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Director General Shatrujeet Kapur about the ongoing confrontations along the border.

“As we have noted in the past, the situation in the India-China border areas gets disturbed from time to time when Chinese forces diverge from established patrolling patterns,” Jaiswal said.

He also reiterated that maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas was essential for the overall development of bilateral relations between India and China.

MEA stresses diplomatic and military engagement

Jaiswal said India and China continued to use existing diplomatic and military mechanisms to resolve outstanding issues and prevent misunderstandings and miscalculations along the LAC.

He added that both countries had agreed to discuss ways to improve their understanding of the LAC in appropriate areas to strengthen border management.

The spokesperson did not elaborate on the specific confrontations mentioned by the ITBP chief, with further questions on the details referred to the Ministry of Defence, according to reporting on the briefing.

ITBP chief confirms ongoing face-offs in Arunachal Pradesh

A day before the MEA briefing, Kapur said face-offs between Indian and Chinese forces had occurred at several locations in Arunachal Pradesh in recent days and that the situation was continuing.

Speaking to ITBP personnel at a base in Alwar, Rajasthan, on Thursday, Kapur also discussed the force’s efforts to strengthen its operational capabilities along the border.

He said the ITBP had mobilised its newly raised Shaurya commando unit during the ongoing face-offs. He also highlighted the creation of drone platoons for border units and the development of a new training course to prepare personnel for battles similar to the 2020 Galwan Valley clash.

The remarks came as the ITBP continued its modernisation efforts, including a greater focus on specialised training and emerging warfare technologies.

Border management remains central to India-China ties

The latest statements underline the importance India places on maintaining peace along the disputed boundary while addressing unresolved issues through diplomatic and military channels.

India and China have continued engagements aimed at managing tensions along the LAC. However, reported confrontations at multiple locations in Arunachal Pradesh have brought the border situation back into focus.

The MEA reiterated that peace and tranquillity along the border remained essential for the broader development of bilateral relations, while emphasising continued engagement to improve border management.

India News

Delhi High Court rejects Neha Bora’s plea against peace bond notice

The Delhi High Court has rejected AISA president Neha Bora’s petition challenging a police notice requiring her to execute a peace bond following her participation in recent protests in the national capital.

Published

13 hours ago

October 23, 2026

APNLive Desk

The Delhi High Court has rejected a petition filed by All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora challenging a police notice that required her to execute a peace bond before a special executive magistrate.

Justice Subramonium Prasad pronounced the order on Friday, October 23, after reserving the verdict following arguments from both sides a day earlier.

The notice, issued by the Special Executive Magistrate in New Delhi district on October 17, directed Bora to appear before the magistrate and execute a personal bond of Rs. 10,000 with one surety to maintain peace.

The proceedings stemmed from her participation in protests in the national capital, including a gathering at Mandi House on October 16, amid demonstrations over alleged electoral fraud.

Why Neha Bora challenged the notice

Bora approached the High Court seeking to challenge the notice, arguing that it was ambiguous and factually incorrect. Her petition also alleged that the proceedings infringed her fundamental rights under Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution.

She contended that the notice did not provide sufficient material to establish a likelihood of a breach of peace. It also failed to specify the period, occasion or event in connection with which the authorities apprehended such a breach, according to her petition.

Bora’s counsel further argued that she had organised a separate gathering at Mandi House and was not involved in the Cockroach Janta Party’s protest call at Central Park in Connaught Place on October 16.

The petition sought relief against the notice and the proceedings arising from it.

What the police told the court

During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, appearing for the Delhi Police, referred to 12 instances of alleged violations involving Bora and argued that the proceedings were preventive in nature.

The police also referred to a gathering at which activist Prashant Bhushan and Cockroach Janta Party leaders allegedly called for a change of regime.

Bora’s counsel countered that she had attended a separate protest at Mandi House and that statements made at a gathering could not automatically be attributed to her.

The arguments centred on the basis for initiating preventive proceedings and the allegations cited in the notice.

Neha Bora was detained during a protest on October 16

Bora was detained on October 16 while taking part in a flag march with AISA activists demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. She was released at around 6 am on October 17.

The peace bond notice was issued on October 17, the day she was released from detention. It directed her to appear before the special executive magistrate and explain why she should not be required to furnish the bond.

The notice referred to allegations including raising slogans during the Mandi House protest, participating in repeated protest-related activities around Jantar Mantar despite prohibitory orders, and encouraging people to join an unauthorised demonstration at Central Park in Connaught Place.

Bora disputed aspects of the allegations in her court petition, including the claim that she had instigated people to participate in the Central Park demonstration.

What happens after the court’s decision

With the High Court rejecting Bora’s petition, she has not obtained the relief she sought against the police notice. The notice requiring her to execute the peace bond remains in effect, according to reports on the court’s decision.

The dismissal concerns her challenge to the notice. The allegations cited in the preventive proceedings should not, by themselves, be treated as findings that she committed an offence.

India News

PM Modi to inaugurate Rs 169-crore RBI data centre in Odisha on October 25

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Odisha on October 25 to inaugurate the Reserve Bank of India’s Rs. 169-crore data centre in Jatni, near Bhubaneswar.

Published

14 hours ago

October 23, 2026

APNLive Desk

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Odisha on October 25 to inaugurate the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Rs. 169-crore data centre at Info Valley-II in Jatni, on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar.

According to the tentative itinerary shared by the Odisha Chief Secretary’s office, the Prime Minister is expected to arrive at Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar at around 4:30 pm aboard a special Indian Air Force aircraft. He will then travel by helicopter to the Khurda helipad before proceeding by road to the RBI facility for the inauguration.

The Prime Minister is likely to spend around an hour at the facility before returning to Bhubaneswar and departing from the state at approximately 6:30 pm.

RBI data centre to strengthen financial infrastructure

Spread across 18.55 acres, the new data centre is designed to strengthen the RBI’s data management, disaster recovery, cybersecurity and business continuity capabilities.

The facility will support critical central banking functions, including currency management, payment and settlement systems, and regulatory operations. It is also expected to serve as a backup to the RBI’s existing data centre in Navi Mumbai.

The new facility will be the RBI’s second data centre of this kind, following its existing centre in Navi Mumbai.

Why the data centre is located in Jatni

The site at Info Valley-II was selected for its geographical stability. According to an official, its location away from seismically active zones and high-risk international border areas is intended to reduce exposure to natural disasters and geopolitical vulnerabilities.

The project is intended to help maintain the continuity of essential RBI operations while strengthening the security and resilience of India’s financial infrastructure.

The foundation stone for the facility was laid by then RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das on March 22, 2023.

PM Modi’s ninth Odisha visit since 2024

The October 25 programme is expected to be Prime Minister Modi’s ninth visit to Odisha since the BJP government was formed in the state in 2024, according to Odisha BJP vice-president Jatin Mohanty.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Chief Secretary Anu Garg have reviewed preparations for the Prime Minister’s scheduled visit.

The inauguration is part of efforts to strengthen Odisha’s digital infrastructure. The project is also expected to support the state’s ambitions in technology and electronics manufacturing, as stated by the BJP leader.