Daijiworld Media Network
New Delhi, May 16: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) which had earlier submitted an application to a Delhi court seeking permission to further probe the sensational Bofors case, withdrew its plea on Thursday, May 16.
The counsel for the CBI submitted to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Navin Kumar Kashyap that the agency will decide on the further course of action but at the moment did not want to pursue the application for further probe filed by it on February 1, 2018.
"For the reason best known to the CBI, in case they want to withdraw the application, they have the right as they are the applicants,” judge Kashyap took a note.
The court also threatened the CBI that it will impose costs on the agency for wasting its time. To this, advocate Ajay Agarwal said he would argue on it. The court has accepted his submission.
The CBI in February last year had submitted an application to further probe the Bofors issue on grounds that it has come across fresh material and evidence.
The court on December 4, 2018 had questioned as to why the CBI required its permission to further probe the matter.
The Bofors scandal was a major weapons-contract political scandal that occurred between India and Sweden during the 1980s and 1990s. The Rs 1,437-crore deal between India and Swedish arms manufacturer AB Bofors for the supply of 400 155mm howitzer guns for the Indian Army was entered into on March 24, 1986.
The deal was initiated by Indian National Congress politicians and implicated the then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, and several other members of the Indian and Swedish governments.