The Bofors chronology

NEW DELHI: The 18-year old Bofors casehas finally reached the last lap of investigation with the Delhi High Courtupholding cheating and conspiracy charges against the Hinduja brothers. Thestory so far:March, 24, 1986: The Rs 1,437-crore contract betweenIndian Government and Swedish company A B Bofors signed for supply of 400Howitzer field guns (155mm).April 16, 1987: Swedish Radio claims A BBofors paid kickbacks to top Indian politicians and key Defence officials tosecure the deal.Jan 22, 1990: CBI registers FIR in thecase.Jan 26, 1990: Swiss authorities freeze bank accounts of Swenska(front company of accused W N Chadha) and A E Services (front company of accusedOttavio Quattrocchi).December 1992: Supreme Court reverses a DelhiHigh Court decision quashing the FIR in the case.July 12 1993: SwissFederal Court rules that India was entitled to Swiss Bank documents pertainingto the kickbacks.Jan 21, 1997: After four years, secret documentsrunning into over 500 pages given to Indian authorities in Bern.Oct22, 1999: CBI files first chargesheet naming Chadha, Quattrocchi, former DefenceSecretary S K Bhatnagar, former Bofors Chief Martin Ardbo and Bofors company.Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi''s name figured as "an accused not sent up fortrial" as he was no more to face trial.Nov 07, 1999: Trial courtissues arrest warrants against Quattrocchi while summoning the other fouraccused.March 18, 2000: Chadha comes to India to face trial andgranted bail but asked not to leave India.Sept 29, 2000: Hindujasclaim that funds received by them from Bofors had no connection with theHowitzer gun deal.Oct 09, 2000: CBI files supplementary chargesheetnaming Hinduja brothers - Srichand, Gopichand and Prakashchand - as accused inthe case.Jan 19, 2001: Hinduja brothers granted bail by SpecialCourt but asked not to leave India. Later, Supreme Court allowed them to visitabroad.Middle of 2001: Trial of accused Quattrocchi and Ardboseparated from that of the other accused.Oct 24, 2001: Chadha diesof cancer. Another accused Bhatnagar passes away the same year.April19, 2002: Special Court dismisses Hinduja brothers'' plea to quash chargesheetfor want of CVC''s clearance. June 10, 2002: Delhi High Court quashesCBI chargesheet against Hindujas reversing the Special Courtorder.September 2002: Supreme Court allows CBI appeal against the HCorder and restores the chargesheet against Hindujas.Nov 14, 2002:Special Court frames charges against three Hinduja brothers and Boforscompany.Sep 30, 2003: Delhi High Court reserves its verdict on theappeal filed by Hindujas and Bofors challenging the trial court order framingcharges against them.Feb 04, 2003: HC upholds cheating andconspiracy charges against Hindujas but quashes the corruption charges againstthem.