Supreme Court Judge AM Khanvilkar separated himself from the hearing of the politically sensitive Rs 64 crore Bofors payment case.
Justice Khanvilkar was a part of the bench headed by Chief Justice Deepak Mishra. He did not give any reason why he decided to oppose the case. Justice DY Chandrachud was also involved in this bench. The bench said that a new bench will be formed for hearing on March 28 of the case.
The Delhi High Court dismissed all the charges against all accused in the case while pronouncing the judgment on 31 May 2005. BJP leader Ajay Agrawal had filed a petition challenging the order of the court, which had to hear this bench.
1437 crores Rs. of agreement
A deal worth Rs 1437 crore was signed between March 24, 1986, about the supply of 155 mm 400 Hvitzer guns to the army between AB Bofors, who created weapons of India and Sweden. Shortly after this, Swedish Radio claimed on April 16, 1987 that in this deal, the Bofors company brokered the top politicians and defense personnel of India.
In this case, on January 22, 1990, the CBI had registered a preliminary complaint against the then president of AB Bofors Martin Ardbo, the alleged middle-aged Win Chadha and the Hinduja brothers. In this case, the investigating bureau filed the first chargesheet against Chadha, Ottavio Qurotoki, then Defense Secretary SK Bhatnagar, Ardbo and Bofors Company on October 22, 1999.
