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V P Singh put his seal of approval on Bofors before Rajiv: CBI

Former prime minister V P Singh, in his capacity as finance minister in the Rajiv Gandhi government, had signed the letter of intent issued to the Swedish A B Bofors company for supplying 400 155 mm Howitzer guns, according to the Central Bureau of Investigation.

In an affidavit filed before the Delhi high court on Monday, the CBI stated that Singh signed the LoI on March 13, 1986.

Then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi awarded the contract to the company on March 15, 1986 after a meeting with his Swedish counterpart Ingvar Carlsson.

$ 7.34 million was allegedly paid to A E Services Limited, a front company of Italian businessman Ottovio Quattrocchi, one of Rajiv Gandhi's close friends, for tilting the Rs 14.37 billion contract in the Bofors company's favour.

Singh's signature came a day before Rajiv Gandhi put his seal of approval.

The popularity of Singh's National Front had sky rocketed in the late 1980s after he quit the Congress and launched a crusade against Rajiv Gandhi and his government on the Bofors issue. This resulted in a severe drubbing for the Congress in the 1989 Lok Sabha election, and Singh became the prime minister.

UNI

EARLIER REPORTS:
Bofors: The Smoking Gun

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