New Delhi: The Europe-based three Hinduja brothers and the Bofors company were on November 15 formally charged with criminal conspiracy and cheating in the Bofors payoff case by a Special Court.

Special judge Prem Kumar, who framed the charges against three Hinduja brothers, Srichand, Gopichand and Prakashchand, and the Bofors company, fixed December 4 for commencement of trial.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Pronouncing his order on November 14, the special judge said that prima facie the accused persons, Hinduja brothers and the Bofors company, were liable to be charged for offences under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and sections 5(1)(d) and 5(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.

Besides, the court had also ordered framing of charges against the Hinduja brothers for offences under Section 161 read with Section 165A (abetting a public servant to take bribe) and Section 34 (common intention) of IPC.

According to the 176-page order, additional charges would be framed against Bofors company under Section 161 read with Section 165A (abetting a public servant to take bribe) and Section 464 (making a false document) and Section 465 (forgery) of IPC.

PTI