New Delhi: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on September 15 accused former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi of thwarting a probe by Swedish government and thereby preventing a disclosure of the names of the recipients of bribe allegedly given by Swedish arms-maker A B Bofors to secure the Rs 1,437 crore contract for the supply of 400 Howitzer guns to the Indian Army in March 1986.

Gandhi called up his Swedish counterpart and impressed upon him not to investigate the matter over there on the ground that Bofors had already denied having paid any bribe in the deal, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Mukul Rohtagi told Justice J D Kapoor.

Justice Kapoor is hearing appeals filed by accused Hinduja brothers - Srichand, Gopichand and Prakashchand - and Bofors challenging the November 2002 order of Special Judge Prem Kumar framing charges against them in the case.

The ASG, who appreciated Prem Kumar for having given a reasoned order, read out a portion of his order to substantiate his contention.

The ASG cited the statement of the then Ambassador to Sweden B M Oza recorded by the probe agency in which he had referred to the conversation between Gandhi and the Swedish Prime Minister after the news of alleged payment of commission in the deal broke in 1987.

Hindujas' counsel Ram Jethmalani and Kapil Sibal strongly objected to Rohtagi's reference to Oza's statement, saying it was hearsay. They drew the court's attention to an earlier letter in which a request was made to the Swedish government to try and find out the facts to remove suspicion about the deal.

PTI