Hindujas won't be arrested: CBI

By J. Venkatesan

NEW DELHI, JAN. 10. The Central Bureau of Investigation today informed the special court here that the three Hinduja brothers chargesheeted in the Bofors payoff case would not be arrested on their coming to India to face trial in response to summons against them.

An assurance to this effect was given by the CBI special public prosecutor, Mr. N. Natarajan, to the special judge, Mr. Ajit Bharihoke, before whom applications were filed by the Hinduja brothers, Mr. S.P. Hinduja, Mr. G.P. Hinduja and Mr. P. P. Hinduja, seeking cancellation of lookout notices issued by the CBI to all airports in India for their detention on landing in the country.

Mr. Natarajan told the judge that the CBI had now amended the lookout notice by withdrawing instructions for detaining them while entering into India. The three brothers could arrive and present themselves unhindered in the court on January 19.

In their applications, the Hinduja brothers had alleged that the CBI notices were motivated and intended to harass and humiliate them. Though they wanted to appear in the court, the lookout notice was an impediment.

Mr. Natarajan said ``the charges are totally baseless, unfounded and unwarranted''. The lookout notices were issued in view of the Hindujas' failure to join the investigation and their insistence that the course of investigation proceed in a manner desired by them.

Following the CBI's submission, the judge in his order said that as the agency has already issued instructions to the immigration authorities not to detain the Hindujas, their other prayers in the applications would be heard on January 19 when they appeared in the court.

Referring to the Hindujas' plea that they be permitted to travel out of India after their appearance in the case, Mr. Natarajan said this request could be made to the court after they submitted themselves to the jurisdiction of the court.

In its reply, the CBI submitted that the lookout notices were first issued against Mr. G.P. Hinduja after a FIR was registered in 1990. It was withdrawn in 1991 after the CBI examined him in London in January, 1991.

Fresh lookout notices were issued against the Hinduja brothers and another accused, Mr. Ottavio Quattrocchi, in 1993

requesting the immigration authorities to inform the CBI if they entered or while leaving India, after it became apparent that they were opposing execution of letters rogatory for transmission of the Swiss documents to the Indian authorities.

The Hinduja brothers also sought different dates for appearance in court as they did not want to appear together on a single day as that would affect their business spread over four continents and employing over 25,000 people.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Front Page
Previous : Beijing ready for triangular cooperation
Next     : PDS sugar only for poor