LONDON: The Swedish newspaper “Dagens Nyheter” has challenged on grounds of jurisdiction the libel suit filed against it in an English court by Ajitabh Bachchan for publishing allegations linking him with the controversial 1.3 billion dollar Bofors Gun Deal.
The newspaper’s solicitors have notified that they are seeking stay of the proceedings on grounds of jurisdiction.
Ajitbah Bachchan, younger brother of film star Amitabh Bachchan, had filed a libel suit in the English court against the Swedish newspaper for publishing the allegation linking him with the Bofors Gun Deal.
Bachchan he also filed a similar suit against India Abroad News service for reproducing the same story which was published in some Indian newspapers.
Many prominent persons were accused of involvement with a 44 million dollar kickback in the 144mm howitzer gun contract. Opposition parties and the media accused the Swedish A B Bofors company of paying up to 5S million dollars to three companies as winding up charges,
The Swedish audit bureau subsequently said that Bofors paid up to 40 million dollars to win the gun deal in 1986.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 18, 1990
