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CBI seeks nod to chargesheet Solanki, Bhatnagar, Arora

The Central Bureau of Investigation has sought sanction from the Union government to prosecute former external affairs minister Madhavsinh Solanki, former defence secretary S K Bhatnagar, and former special secretary in the prime minister's office Gopi Krishan Arora in connection with the Bofors gun deal.

CBI sources said, ''The government has been requested by the agency to accord sanction to prosecute them.''

The sources said the chargesheet in the case was also likely to be filed once the sanction is granted by the government.

Chargesheets would also be filed against Italian businessman Ottovio Quattrocchi and some others (names have not been revealed) in connection with the case.

The CBI took the decision after going through the document it received from the Swedish authorities in January last year.

Then CBI director Joginder Singh had personally gone to Sweden to bring the documents, request for which was made by the then United Front government led by H D Deve Gowda.

The CBI also charged substantive offences against A B Bofors President Martin Ardbo, and others alleging that certain individuals in India and abroad had entered into a criminal conspiracy during 1982-87 in pursuance of which offences of bribery, corruption, cheating and forgery were allegedly committed.

UNI

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