Hindujas' personal bonds highest in legal history

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MAY 14. The two Hinduja brothers - Mr. Srichand and Mr. Gopichand - today furnished personal bonds of Rs. 15 crores each before the Special CBI Court which would enable them to go abroad after facing the CBI gaze and the courts here for nearly four months. The hefty amount of the personal bond and bank guarantee, imposed by the Supreme Court, happens to be the highest in the country's legal history.

The two Hinduja brothers, who are British nationals and accused in the Rs. 64 crore Bofors pay-offs, had got the reprieve from the Supreme Court on Saturday which allowed them to leave the country after imposing certain stiff conditions. The third accused brother, Mr. Prakash Chand, a Swiss national, was asked to remain in the country and stand guarantee for his two brothers.

Accepting personal bonds and bank guarantees of Rs. 15

crores each given by Mr. Srichand and Mr. Gopichand, the Special CBI Judge, Mr. R.L.Chugh, directed the immigration authorities to allow the two to go abroad. The bank guarantee shall not be revoked till September 30, but would be forfeited in case of default by both Mr. S.P. Hinduja and Mr. Gopi Chand Hinduja, the Judge said in the order.

Mr. Prakash Chand today moved an application seeking exemption from personal appearance before the Special Court which was opposed by the CBI. Pending a final decision on the application, Mr. Chugh granted him exemption from personal appearance on May 25, next date of hearing. The Court would also hear arguments on separation of trial on that day.

The three Hinduja brothers were present in a packed court room along with a battery of lawyers - Mr. Amit Desai, Mr. U.A. Rana and Mr. Arvind Nigam. The other accused, former Defence Secretary, Mr. S.K.Bhatnagar, the former Bofors agent, Mr. Win Chadha and M/s A.B. Bofors, were represented by their lawyers.

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