NEW DELLHI: Has there been a trade-off between the government and to Jan path on Bofors? Two officials of the Central Bureau of Investigation who had been doggedly pursuing the Bofors inquiries for nearly two years have been taken off the investigation.
The officials – both Joint Directors are M.D. Sharma and K Madhavan. The Statesman says the decision is believed to have been taken at the highest level of government. The CBI falls under the charge of the Department of Personnel, which is under the Prime Minister.
Top CBI officials, are tight- lipped, but sources in the PMO have claimed that the moves are only “routine”. One official asked “why should the Bofors inquiry be the prerogative of one or two persons?”
It is learnt that Sharmai is seeking ‘a posting in his home state while Madhavan has been moved out
The timing of the moves is significant. According to reports from Geneva, disclosures about beneficiaries of the Bofors kick- backs are imminent. Those seeking to prevent the disclosure have made both legal and irregular efforts to prevent the Swiss authorities from revealing the names but have been unsuccessful.
Al legal efforts to prevent disclosures failed in India with the Supreme Court, after hearing lengthy arguments holding that the C.B.I F.I.R was legal and valid.
There was an unexplained delay, in sending the Supreme Court order to the Swiss authorities, but it reached just before the time. Limit set by the Geneva courts was to expire.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 22, 1991
