New Delhi: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on September 13 alleged that the Bofors gun deal was a result of a big conspiracy between Swedish arms manufacturer A B Bofors, Hinduja brothers, Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, W N Chadha and some Indian public servants to cheat the government.

During arguments on the point of charge in the Rs 64 crore Bofors pay-offs case, CBI counsel N Natrajan defined conspiracy as "an agreement to commit an illegal act" and said by awarding the deal to Bofors the accused caused an unlawful gain to themselves and a corresponding loss to the exchequer.

"Whatever be the nomenclature, winding up charges or commission, the fact remains that the accused received illegal payment from Bofors regarding this deal," Natrajan submitted before Special Judge Prem Kumar.

He said the conspiracy was hatched and executed in 1985-87 during the regime of Rajiv Gandhi, whose name figured in the first chargesheet filed by CBI in October 1999.

The court asked Natrajan to explain to it Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and Section 420 (cheating) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 5(1) (D) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

However, Natrajan told the court that he had to go to Mumbai to appear in the Bombay blast case and he would not be available in the capital till September 13.

Meanwhile, U S Prasad, another CBI counsel, would continue with the arguments on charge in the case on September 16.

PTI