india

Updated: May 16, 2019 23:58 IST

The Central Bureau of Investigation said on Thursday that it will continue the probe in the Bofors scandal, in which Rs64 crore kickbacks were allegedly paid.

“In view of certain revelations made by one Michael Hershman, the CBI sought the permission of the trial court to conduct further investigation in the Bofors case,” CBI spokesperson Nitin Wakankar said on Thursday.

Hershman, president of the United States-based private detective firm Fairfax, had claimed in interviews in 2017 that former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi led Congress government had sabotaged his investigation. He had also alleged that the bribe money in the Bofors scandal was parked in a Swiss account.

The CBI had closed the case in 2014 citing lack of evidence.

Wakankar said, “The court of chief metropolitan magistrate (CMM), Rouse Avenue Courts, New Delhi had observed on May 8, 2019 that when independent right and power is available with CBI to further investigate the matter on their own if in their wisdom it is necessary to do so then, why still such application is being filed in the court and fixed the next date of hearing on (Thursday) May 16.”

“After obtaining legal opinion, CBI filed an application on Thursday stating that for conducting further investigation under section 173(8) of CrPC, permission of the court is not mandatorily required by CBI and an intimation to the court in this regard will suffice,” Wakankar said. In 2017, the CBI had obtained the Centre’s permission to reopen the case.