The UK-based Hinduja brothers on Friday declared before the Delhi high court that the money received by them from Swedish arms manufacturer A B Bofors in 1986 was not connected with the 155 mm Howitzer gun deal.

Hinduja's legal counsel Ram Jethmalani told Justice J D Kapoor that the money was actually paid by Bofors under a counter-trade agreement with the Swedish company that was prevalent since 1979.

Jethmalani claimed there was nothing on record to connect the brothers with the gun deal.

The brothers requested the court to quash the charges of criminal conspiracy and abetment of corruption framed by special court Judge Prem Kumar in November last year.

The brothers, Srichand, Gopichand and Prakashchand, had appealed against the earlier special court charges against them for accepting Rs 64 crore in the Rs 1,437 crore gun deal.

The Central Bureau of Investigation in October 2000 had filed a charge sheet accusing the brothers of receiving illegal commissions from Bofors in violation of terms and conditions of the contract signed by the Government of India with the Swedish arms manufacturer.