Srichand interrogation over

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JAN. 23. The CBI today again questioned Mr. Srichand Hinduja, chairperson of the Hinduja group, on several aspects of the alleged commission received by the Hinduja brothers in the Rs. 1,437-crore Bofors gun deal in 1986.

Though for the time being the agency appears to have rounded off the interrogation of Mr. Srichand Hinduja, the CBI spokesperson, Mr. S.M. Khan, said he could be summoned again, if needed. He said the agency would question Geneva-based Mr. Prakash Hinduja tomorrow. Mr. G.P. Hinduja would be called later.

Mr. Srichand Hinduja has been quizzed by the CBI every day since Saturday afternoon and today's session lasted nearly three hours. The agency submitted a progress report to the Special Court yesterday and granted time to proceed with the interrogation of the three NRI business tycoons till January 30.

Well-placed CBI sources said the agency could need at least two to three days each for questioning Mr. Gopichand and Mr. Prakash Hinduja for their alleged role and receipt of kickbacks in the Bofors deal. The Hindujas have maintained that the money they received from the Swedish arms manufacturer was not related to the Indian Howitzer deal.

Responding to a query if Mr. Srichand Hinduja could move an application before the Special Court to go abroad as his interrogation was over, the CBI spokesperson said, ``We will answer it in the court but if certain issues figure during the interrogation of the other two brothers, we will have to call Mr. S.P. Hinduja again.'' Mr. Khan said the Hinduja brothers were replying to all questions.

Emerging from the CBI headquarters after his session with the detectives, Mr. Srichand Hinduja said that he had offered all cooperation to the agency and hoped that the CBI would come out with truth. ``At the end, everything will be crystal clear.''

The Hinduja brothers appeared before the Special Court on January 19 after years of dilly-dallying and were asked to join investigations.

Mandelson denial

Reuters reports:

In London, the Northern Ireland Secretary, Mr. Peter Mandelson, the British Prime Minister's closest political ally, strove today to rebut allegations that he acted improperly in British passport applications by Mr. Srichand Hinduja.

Mr. Mandelson, who has already resigned from Government once, authorised Mr. Tony Blair's spokesperson to tell reporters he had talked to the Immigration Minister in 1998 about a passport application by Mr. Srichand Hinduja. The official spokesperson said Mr. Mandelson had checked his records and found that he had talked to the Home Office Minister, Mr. Mike O'Brien, about the process of passport applications, having met Mr. Hinduja at a party.

However, ``he did not promote or endorse any application. There is nothing improper at all in Peter having been approached at an event.''

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