Happy to be cleared of Bofors taint after 25 years: Amitabh Bachchan

MUMBAI: Revelations made by the Swedish investigators cleared off Amitabh Bachchan’s name in the Bofors payoff scam.

In 1986, Swiss arms manufacturer Bofors struck a Rs. 1,500 crore deal to supply 155 mm howitzers to India. Post one year, Swiss press began reporting that the company had paid huge kickbacks to Indian politicians, including then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

25 years later, Swedish investigator Sten Lindstrom says that the case against Actor Amitabh Bachchan was planted in Swedish newspaper – Dagens Nyheter. He also added that there is no evidence to show Rajiv Gandhi accepted bribes.

Amitabh Bachchan, in a mixed reaction expressed happiness as well as pain that the truth came out after 25 years.

"I am happy that the truth has emerged after 25 years," he said to the press.

However, he wished that his father – late Harivanshrai Bachchan, had lived to see this. "My family knew the truth on Bofors all along, from day one. My father once asked if I was really involved in the scandal. I wish this disclosure would have happened when he was alive," he added. He said he had lived with humiliation all these years.  

"From the very day we have maintained that we were innocent, for 25 years me as well as my family’s name bore the brunt of the scandal of which I was never a part of," he said.

He, however, questioned why Lindstorm cleared his name only now.

About Author

BOC Editorial

Learn More →

Leave a Reply