Law ministry looking into Bofors twist, says Mukherjee
By IANSTuesday, January 4, 2011
NEW DELHI - Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Tuesday said the union law ministry was examining a tax tribunal’s order confirming that illegal commission of Rs.412.5 million was indeed paid in the Rs.15-billion Bofors gun deal of 1986.
“The law ministry is examining the papers and after that we will see what can be done,” Mukherjee told reporters here.
He, however, refused to elaborate on what the government was looking at in the light of Monday’s tribunal order and a plea in a court seeking withdrawal of the case.
The Central Bureau of Investigation that has been probing the scam has sought closure of the case against prime accused Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrochi citing lack of evidence. The closure is being heard in a lower court and the case is likely to come up for another hearing Thursday.
