Friday, July 1 2005 14:08 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) distanced itself yesterday (Jun 30, 2005) from the figure of Rs 250 crore said to have been spent on the investigations into the Bofors pay off case.

"This figure was not supplied by us. I wonder from where it came," CBI Director U S Misra told reporters whether it was a fact that Rs 250 crore was spent on the probe into the Bofors bribe case.

"I have asked my officials to give me the details of the expenditure," he told a press conference adding an in-house exercise to estimate the amount of money spent on the probe that was being done.

Asked whether the CBI would be moving the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court judgement quashing the charges against Hinduja brothers in the Bofors case, Misra said, "We have got the certified copy of the judgement and we are examining it. We will take a decision on that shortly."

Asked as to why the case had failed in the courts, the Director said, "We are an investigating agency and we probed the matter completely. If courts hold a contrary view, what can CBI do?"

The Delhi High Court had on May 31, 2005 quashed all charges three Europe-based Hinduja brothers and Bofors company and castigated the CBI for its handling of the 18-year-old case saying it had cost the ex-chequer Rs 250 crores.