New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on September 16 claimed before a Delhi court that there was enough evidence to frame charges against four accused, including the Hinduja brothers, in the Rs 64 crore Bofors pay-offs case.

During arguments on the point of charge before Special Judge Prem Kumar, CBI counsel U S Prasad alleged that the Bofors deal was result of an international conspiracy to cheat the government in the supply of 155mm guns to the Indian Army.

Prasad requested the court to frame charges against the Europe-based Hinduja brothers- Srichand, Gopichand and Prakashchand and the Swedish arms manufacturer A B Bofors under Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy), Section 420 (cheating) of IPC and Section 5(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Citing several Supreme Court rulings in support of his contention, the CBI counsel said at this stage the court has only to see whether there is prima facie evidence against the accused or not.

However, the CBI's arguments remained inconclusive, as senior counsel N Natrajan was busy in Mumbai in connection with the 1993 serial bomb blast case. He was likely to come on September 18 to wrap up the agency's submissions.

Meanwhile, the court asked Bofors counsel Alok Sengupta to address it on the Swedish arms manufacturer's contention that companies could not be prosecuted. Sengupta would make submissions on this limited point on September 17.

PTI