New Delhi: Former External Affairs Minister Madhav Singh Solanki had attempted to scuttle the probe into the multi-crore Bofors payoff scandal, according to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Solanki had attempted to mislead the Swiss authorities, who were executing the letters rogatory sent by India to that country seeking assistance in the probe and scuttle the investigations, the agency believes and has initiated steps to prosecute him.

Presidential nod for the former minister's prosecution came way back in 1999 and the matter is now pending before a city court.

Solanki, who visited Davos in Switzerland in 1992 to attend the World Economic Conference allegedly met the Swiss Foreign Minister Rene Felber there and conveyed his reservations on the matter.

The Foreign Minister allegedly told Felber that inquiries conducted into the scam in India had failed to produce any result and that the request for mutual assistance was based on political considerations, CBI sources said.

He also told the Swiss Minister that allegations (surrounding the scam) caused the downfall of Rajiv Gandhi's government, though nothing could be established.

The probe agency believes that Solanki's statement was false and intended to "scuttle" the investigation, which was to be conducted in Switzerland in pursuance of the letters rogatory.

PTI