Maybe a new twist in the investigation of the Bofors scandal, CBI sought information from private investigator Michael Hershman

There can be a fresh twist to the investigation of the Bofors bribery case. Actually, the CBI has approached US private investigator Michael Hershman. The judicial request letter has also been sent to the US from the CBI. Michael Hershman has expressed his willingness to submit vital information about the case of the Bofors bribery to the investigating agencies of India. Fairfax Group head Michael Hershman visited India during the year 2017. During this time, he was a part of various programs. When Michael Hershman was questioned about the case of the Bofors bribery during these programs, he mentioned that the then Congress government had diverted the investigation of the scam and that he was willing to submit vital information about the case to the CBI.

Michael Hershman had claimed that the Union Finance Ministry had appointed him in 1986 to investigate the violation of currency control laws and money laundering by Indians abroad. Some of these cases were also related to the Bofors deal. During the investigation, he got important information. On Hershman's claim, the CBI demanded documents from the Finance Ministry which were related to Hershman's investigation. However, the CBI is not aware of receiving any documents. The CBI has taken cognizance of Hershman's claim and has sought information.

The Bofors scam came to light in the 1980s. At that time, Rajiv Gandhi's government was in power at the Centre. There was a political upheaval after the scam was exposed. The then Congress government had made a deal of 400 howitzer guns for Rs 1437 crore with the Swedish company Bofors. There were allegations of a bribe of Rs 64 crore in this deal. However, in 2004, the Delhi High Court in one of its decisions acquitted former PM Rajiv Gandhi in the Bofors case. The middleman in this deal, Ottavio Quattrocchi, was also acquitted by the court in 2011.