Delhi court allows CBI to retain Bofors papers

A designated Delhi court on Friday allowed the Central Bureau of Investigation to retain the secret bank documents relating to the Bofors scandal ''for the purpose of investigation'' and ''producing as evidence in the case.''

The documents, brought to New Delhi early on Friday morning from Berne, Switzerland, by CBI Director Joginder Singh, were submitted to the court of Additional Sessions Judge Ajit Bharihoke at the Tis Hazari complex by the investigating officer in the case, Umesh, and special public prosecutor U S Prasad.

The judge then took the officials and the documents into his chamber where the seals of the three covers in which the documents had been brought, were opened and the papers studied for about half an hour.

Emerging from his chamber, the judge told waiting reporters in his courtroom that ''the envelopes are found to contain attested true copies of various documents duly signed by the department of justice (Switzerland).''

In his order granting permission to the CBI to retain the papers, Bharihoke said the documents can be left with the investigating agency ''so that they can thoroughly peruse the same for the purpose of proper investigation of the case.''

As soon the CBI officials entered the courtroom, the judge asked them whether they had brought the documents. On being informed ''Yes,'' the judge directed them to come into his chamber.

The CBI, in its application seeking possession of the bank papers for pursuing its investigation in the case, said that the documents had been handed over ''in part of execution of the letter of request to the ambassador of India at Berne, Switzerland, on January 22." ''...The documents so received were requested by the CBI for the purpose of further investigation of this case also for being used as evidence in the case.

''The investigation of the case is still in progress in India and abroad, and further evidence is still required to be collected.

''It is therefore prayed that this honourable court may please allow the petitioner to retain the documents.''

According to the first information report, ''certain public servants of India and private parties of India and certain other countries had entered into a criminal conspiracy during 1982-87 in pursuance of which the offences were committed in relation to the award of certain contracts by government of India to Messrs AB Bofors, Sweden, on March 24, 1986.''

Earlier, the Bofors papers were brought to India by the three-member team led by Joginder Singh in the wee hours of the morning from Switzerland.

Joginder Singh, who had on Tuesday received the sealed box from the Indian ambassador in Berne, arrived in New Delhi at 0145 hours IST Friday on a Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt.

The CBI director and his team were whisked away from the airport as soon as they arrived.

UNI