- guardian.co.uk, Monday 22 January 2001 17.17 GMT
It was a bold move. By coming to Delhi voluntarily, before they faced possible extradition proceedings, the billionaire industrialists would be able to confound their critics who said they would never show their faces in an Indian court. But things did not turn out as the Hindujas had expected.
On Friday, Ajit Bharihoke, the special judge hearing their case, ruled that they should not be allowed to return to Britain without his permission.The move appeared to dumbfound the Hindujas' defence team, who gathered in an impromptu huddle in the well of the Delhi court. They had earlier requested that the brothers be allowed to leave for the US that evening.
Worse was to follow. On Saturday Mr Bharihoke, ordered the brothers to submit themselves for questioning before India's Central Bureau of Investigation. Srichand was grilled for three hours, returning yesterday for another five. His brothers are expected to appear this week.
Instead of spending only 24 hours in India, it now appears that the Hindujas could be stuck here for weeks, if not months. Srichand Hinduja, the group chairman, has responded to this setback with philosophical good humour.'Whether our application (to leave) is granted or not granted, with modern communications we can still operate,' he told the Guardian. 'We have nothing to hide.'
The industrialists are accused of accepting £7.1m in commission from the Swedish arms manufacturer Bofors.The money was allegedly paid in 1986 after they used their influence with the late Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi to secure the firm a huge defence contract.The bribes were hidden in a series of secret Swiss banks accounts, codenamed Lotus, Mont Blanc and Tulip, it is claimed.
Indian investigators have been pursuing those they claim were involved in the scandal for 10 years. But they have acquired a dangerous momentum thanks to the Hindujas' close and substantial links with New Labour. They entertained Tony and Cherie Blair at their annual 'interfaith' party 14 months ago and gave £1m to sponsor the Dome's spirit zone.
The Hindujas have consistently denied the allegations.
The Observer revealed yesterday the brothers had asked Peter Mandelson to inquire whether an application for British citizenship by Srichand - known as SP - would be welcomed by the Home Office. SP's previous application had been rejected but in March 1999 it was approved, just as Swiss federal courts indicated they would release details of the Hindujas' private bank accounts.
Gopichand became a British citizen in November 1997, soon after Labour's election victory, while Prakesh acquired Swiss nationality in October 1999, in the same month that the Indian CBI first named the Hindujas in connection with the Bofors scandal. SP yesterday confirmed he had approached Mr Mandelson over his passport application but said he had only asked for procedural advice.
The fact that the Hindujas are no longer Indian citizens has left prosecutors 'apprehensive' as to whether they will turn up for the later stages of their trial. Between March 1991 and March 1999 the brothers came to India 78 times but then stopped coming when their Swiss bank accounts were finally disclosed to investigators.
Though they appear to have suffered a temporary setback the Hindujas can take consolation from the fact that Indian justice moves extremely slowly - and that they will probably be allowed back to Britain next month. Observers in Delhi agree it could be another 10 years before a verdict is pronounced on their case, if ever, by which time New Labour could be history.
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