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Tag: Bofors

  • Rajiv’ 2.5 Billions,Swiss Magazine Confirms.

    Sonia and Rajiv Gandhi
    Rajiv gandhi and Sonia.

    There was  an article in India today and mention was made of Sonia/Rajiv’s  connection to Swiss account by http://www.schweizer-illustrierte.ch/zeitschrift/500-millionen-der-schweiz-imeldas-faule-tricks .

    Swiss Magazine Swiss Illustrie exposes Rajiv Gandhi
    Swiss Illustrie on Rajiv Gandhi

    I blogged it ( read the link under related).

    The  Swiss magazine sent me a communication saying that I might have it wrong.

    Yet the same magazine in its reply to Swamy’s query has studiously avoided confirming/denying the Story( as it has done to my piece),yet asks for Subscription!


    I have marked it in bold letters in the following story.

    Also note the revelation by Rajiv Gandhi.

    Story:

    The shocking exposure came from Switzerland itself. The most popular magazine of Switzerland, Schweizer Illustrierte, [dated November 11, 1991] did an expose of 14 politicians of developing nations who, it said, had stashed their bribes in Swiss banks. The title of the expose in German read “Fluchgelder — Die Schweizer Konten der Dictatoren”. In English it meant, “Curse of money — The Swiss bank accounts of the Dictators”. Rajiv Gandhi figured in the expose as one with slush funds in secret accounts. Schweizer Illustrierte is not some rag. It is the Number One Swiss magazine and sells some 2,10,000 copies. Its readership is 9,18,000 — some 15 per cent of Swiss adults. The magazine had mentioned specific amounts in secret Swiss accounts of different leaders with their pictures alongside.

    The report under the picture of Rajiv Gandhi, translated into English, read: “2.5 billion francs on the Indian secret accounts in Switzerland” of “Rajiv Gandhi, Indian”. Today the amount of 2.5 billion Swiss Francs equals 2.2 billion US Dollars. But as Rajiv was no more by then, it must become the family inheritance. The other leaders captured by the magazine were: Suharto of Indonesia (25.5 billion), Haile Selassie of Ethiopia (22.5 billion), Mobutu of Zaire (6 billion), Shah Pehlvi of Iran (5.7 billion), Saddam Hussein of Iraq (800 million), and Nicolas Ceausescu of Romania (500 million). The figures of slush money mentioned were in milliarden (meaning ‘billions’) units of Swiss Francs. Had Rajiv been alive then, the expose would have caused a political tsunami in India.

    The box item above shows the pictures and the amounts of the leaders as appearing in the magazine.

    More than the slush money charge it is the family’s silence about it, which is baffling. The number one magazine in Switzerland had made the damning charge that Rajiv Gandhi had left behind slush funds of $2.2 billion and yet the family has kept mum for 18 years now. How could any honest person tolerate such a serious charge? Well, one could say that the family might not have challenged it because it was published in far away Switzerland. But Dr Subramanian Swamy had included the Schweizer Illustrierte expose in his write-up “Do You know your Sonia?” in his party, the Janata Party, website, seven years ago, in 2002. It is still on the Party’s website. Photocopies of the expose in the Swiss magazine are shown at pages 51 to 53 of Dr Swamy’s write-up; also an e-mail from the magazine addressed to Dr Swamy on February 22, 2002 at page 50. The e-mail confirms what the magazine had reported.

    The e-mail reads:

    “Dear sir,

    We refer to your e-mail of April 4, regarding an article in our magazine Schweizer Illustrierte of November 11, 1991. In this article — Fluchgelder – Die Schweizer Konten der Dictatoren — is Rajiv Gandhi named with tot 2.5 Milliarden CHF on secret accounts. If you want the magazine please indicate the exact address.

    Yours faithfully,Ringer Ltd.Margot Todisco”.

    The fax and telephone numbers of Margot Todisco are also given in the mail. The e-mail is in box alongside here. Yet no one from the Congress or from the family has sued Dr Swamy till date, nor challenged him. The Swiss expose also prominently figured in the advertisement that some NRIs had put out in the New York Times to protest against Sonia Gandhi when she visited the US in the year 2007. The Indian National Overseas Congress (INOC) filed a defamation case against the ad, expressly “not to defend itself, but Sonia Gandhi”. The New York Supreme Court dismissed the case holding that only Sonia Gandhi, not the INOC, had the locus to sue. But she would not dare sue. Thus, neither in Switzerland where Schweizer Illustrierte exposed Rajiv’s secret account with billions 18 years ago in 1991, nor in India where Dr Swamy had put it on his party’s website seven years ago in 2002, or in the US where the NRIs had boldly advertised the expose two years ago in 2007, would the Gandhi family challenge the expose.

    In criminal law the conduct of the accused is an important piece of evidence. What does the family’s conduct show here excepting that it has something to hide.

    Second: family benefited from KGB, says book

    The second expose, Rajiv Gandhi figuring again, is that the first family of the Congress accepted political payoffs from the Russian spy outfit, the KGB. In a highly acclaimed book The State Within a State: The KGB and Its Hold on Russia-Past, Present, and Future by Yevgenia Albats, a journalist on Moscow News and Izvestia, the author writes: “A letter signed by Victor Chebrikov, who replaced Andropov as the KGB head in 1982, noted: the USSR KGB maintains contact with the son of the Premier Minister Rajiv Gandhi (of India).

    R Gandhi expresses deep gratitude for the benefits accruing to the prime minister’s family from the commercial dealings of the firm he controls in co-operation with the Soviet Foreign trade organisations.

    R Gandhi reports confidentially that a substantial portion of the funds obtained through this channel are used to support the party of R Gandhi.” (p223) The author also cites the KGB letter and file reference. In Dr Swamy’s write-up on Sonia, KGB’s letter in Russian is attached at page 45 and its English translation at pages 43 and 44.

    http://expressbuzz.com/biography/who-will-probe-first-familysbillions/62676.html

    Related:

    I have blogged on the subject of Rajiv Gandhi‘s 2.5 Billion Francs ,which was based on  the November 1991 issue of Schweizer Illustrierte, the most popular magazine of Switzerland, carried an expose of 14 politicians from developing nations who had stashed their bribes in Swiss banks , Subramanian Swamy‘s s statement , India Today‘s Story  http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/123602/UP%20Front/dacoits+have+looted+india.ht
    The story was linked to Schweizer Illustrierte  dated November 1991 and
    Also Ram Jethmalani’s piece in India Today.
    On February 2, 2011,Schweizer Illustrierte sent me a comment which is provided at the end of this article.
    I again checked the link.
    The information in German seems to confirm the information on Rajiv Gandhi.
    May be I got my translation wrong.
    If some one can confirm that the information on Rajiv Gandhi is wrong as per the magazine’s published Record,I hereby tender a Public Apology to Sonia Gandhi,Rajiv Gandhi and Family.
    I have a few questions.
    Why did the magazine take 10 years to deny?
    Why does  Sonia Gandhi keep quiet?
    What is the stand of India Today, Subramanian Swamy , S.Gurumurthy and the Indian Express?
    Also note that the magazine , in its communication, has not denied it out right.
    It says ‘as we think you might have cited it wrong’
    Typical statement which while not confirming also does not categorically deny it.
    If Schweizer Illustrierte’s article is wrong ,has Sonia Gandhi received an apology from them?
    Questions, questions every where , not an answer to blink.
    Magazines communication to me.
    ‘Submitted on 2011/02/02 at 7:40 pm

    Dear Blogger, you’ll find the mentioned Schweizer Illustrierte article (Page 41) on this URL:

    http://www.schweizer-illustrierte.ch/zeitschrift/500-millionen-der-schweiz-imeldas-faule-tricks

    Please examine the content carefully, as we think you might have cited it wrong.

    Regards
    Schweizer Illustrierte’

     

     

    http://www.schweizer-illustrierte.ch/zeitschrift/500-millionen-der-schweiz-imeldas-faule-tricks

    Please examine the content carefully, as we think you might have cited it wrong.

    Regards
    Schweizer Illustrierte’

    http://ramanisblog.in/2011/02/18/advani-apology-rajiv-2-5-billion-whyhas-your-claim-disproved/

    Related:

    KGB PAID MONEY TO SONIA, RAHUL, RAJIV GANDHI.

     

    In an article written on March 18th 2009: INDIA has $1.4 Trillion of Illegal money stashed in Swiss Banks – Time to bring it home !, I wrote in the first para: “Rajeev Gandhi’s untimely death left Sonia Gandhi extremely wealthy. The true extent of her wealth became known only when the Soviet archives were thrown open following the collapse of the Soviet Union. KGB archives revealed that as far back as 1982, when Indira Gandhi was still prime minister, Soviet trading agencies were channeling funds into a company controlled by her son and future Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

    This was also brought to light by Harvard Russian scholar Yvgenia Albats in her book The State Within A State: The KGB and Its Hold on Russia. The Swiss news-magazine Schweizer Illustrierte (November 11, 1991) provided more details. Citing newly—opened KGB records, it reported that Sonia Gandhi, widow of the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, was controlling a secret account worth 2.5 billion Swiss francs (about 2 billion dollars at current exchange rates) in a Swiss bank in her minor son’s name.

    http://ramanisblog.in/2011/02/16/kgb-paid-money-to-sonia-rahul-rajiv-gandhi/

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  • Swiss Account of Rajiv Gandhi-2.5 Billion Swiss francs?

    Sonia Gandhi 2009
    Image via Wikipedia

     

    No comments by Congress yet.

    What can you expect from these people who have declared war on corruption!? ( Sonia’s speech on corruption).

    Story:

    The November 1991 issue of Schweizer Illustrierte, the most popular magazine of Switzerland, carried an exposé of 14 politicians from developing nations who had stashed their bribes in Swiss banks. It alleged that Rajiv Gandhi was one of them, and put his figure at 2.5 billion Swiss francs. Schweizer Illustrierte is not some rag; it sells some 2,10,000 copies. Does that account still exist, if the allegation is correct?

    The Gandhi family has neither denied the allegations, nor taken legal action against the Swiss magazine or Indian politicians like Subramanian Swamy, who has charged that illicit monies are being recycled through the stock market.

    An allegation does not become true simply because it is made. It must be substantiated. But as the recent exposé of the 2G spectrum scandal indicates, it is the duty of government agencies to follow up when there seems to be some substance in the charge. If there is so much smoke, they must check out the fire. But the conduct of this Government, nominally headed by Manmohan Singh but controlled by the Uncrowned Empress and her heir apparent, has invariably been dishonest. A typical example is the answer given by the Ministry of Finance in Rajya Sabha on November 24, 2009 about Indian funds in Swiss bank accounts: “Efforts have been made from time-to-time to seek such information under the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) between India and Swiss Confederation. However the Swiss Federal Tax Administration has expressed its inability to exchange the information regarding bank deposits of Indian residents as the information was not necessary for the application of the DTAA between India and Swiss Confederation, but was required only for the enforcement of Indian internal laws.” It also replied that “such information was not at their disposal under Swiss laws in the normal course of tax administration. Further in connection with the investigation of specific cases, Directorate of Enforcement, if deemed necessary, seeks information from foreign jurisdiction in respect of accounts held by Indian nationals/entities in banks located overseas. However no roving enquiries are made. There is no verifiable information available about money deposited with Swiss banks by Indians.”

    http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/123602/UP%20Front/dacoits+have+looted+india.html

    Related:

    A stunning exposure on Sonia Gandhi’s secret billions in Swiss banks came, surprisingly, from Switzerland itself, where the world’s corrupt stash away their booty. In its issue of November 19, 1991, Schweizer Illustrierte, the most popular magazine of Switzerland, did an exposé of over a dozen politicians of the third world, including Rajiv Gandhi, who had stashed away their bribe monies in Swiss banks. Schweizer Illustrierte, not a rag, sells some 2,15,000 copies and has a readership of 9,17,000 — almost a sixth of Swiss adult population. Citing the newly opened KGB records, the magazine reported ‘that Sonia Gandhi the widow of the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was controlling secret account with 2.5 billion Swiss Francs (equal to $2.2 billion) in her minor son’s name’. The $2.2 billion account must have existed from before June 1988 when Rahul Gandhi attained majority. The loot in today’s rupee value equals almost Rs 10,000 crore. Swiss banks invest and multiply the clients’ monies, not keep them buried. Had it been invested in safe long-term securities, the $.2.2 billion bribe would have multiplied to $9.41 billion (Rs 42,345 crore) by 2009. If it had been put in US stocks, it would have swelled to $12.97 billion (Rs 58,365 crore). If, as most likely, it were invested in long-term bonds and stocks as 50:50, it would have grown to $11.19 billion (Rs 50,355 crore). Before the global financial meltdown in 2008, the $2.2 billion bribes in stocks would have peaked at $18.66 billion (Rs 83,900 crore). By any calculation the present size of the $2.2 billion secret funds of the family in Swiss banks seems huge — anywhere between Rs 43,000 plus to some Rs 84,000 crore!

    http://www.vmohanty.com/2011/a-stunning-exposure-on-sonia-gandhi%25e2%2580%2599s-se/

  • Kickback taxable,Q.E.D.Bofors scam.

    Comments are unnecessary.

    Facts speak.

    Advantage Karunanidhi?

    The Bofors ghost returned to haunt the Congress party with an income tax tribunal saying that kickbacks of Rs 41 crore were paid to late Win Chaddha and Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi in the Howitzer gun deal and that they are liable to pay tax in India on such income. 

    “….inaction in this regard may lead to a non-existent undesirable and detrimental notion that India is a soft state and one can meddle with its tax laws with impunity,” the income tax appellate tribunal (ITAT) said in its 98-page order.

    The tribunal gave this order while dismissing an appeal by Win Chaddha’s son against income tax department’s claim of Rs 52 crores and Rs 85 lakh from his father for the assessment years 1987-88 and 1988-89.  Bofors scam: Quattrocchi got kickback, says I-T panel – The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Bofors-scam-Quattrocchi-got-kickback-says-I-T-panel/articleshow/7211424.cms#ixzz19xIaLLhM

    History of Bofors Scandal

    NEW DELHI: The Bofors gun deal, signed between the Indian government and the now defunct Swedish arms company AB Bofors 21 years ago, has once again come to haunt the government and politics of this country.

    Ottavio Quattrocchi, the Italian businessman accused of being a conduit in the bribes that were alleged to have been paid to facilitate the deal, was detained in Argentina and then subsequently released on bail, much to the embarrassment of Indian investigators who have been on his trail.

    Following is the chronology of events in the Bofors howitzer payoff scandal:

    March 24, 1986: A $1.4 billion contract between the Indian government and Swedish arms company AB Bofors signed for supply of over 400 155mm howitzers.

    April 16, 1987: Swedish Radio claims Bofors paid kickbacks to top Indian politicians and key defence officials to secure the deal.

    April 20, 1987: Then Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi assures the Lok Sabha that neither was any middleman involved in the deal nor were kickbacks paid.

    August 6, 1987: Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) set up under B. Shankaranand to probe into allegations of kickbacks.

    February 1988: Indian investigators visit Sweden.

    July 18, 1989: JPC report presented to parliament.

    November 1989: Rajiv Gandhi loses power as Congress defeated in general elections.

    December 26, 1989: Then prime minister V.P. Singh’s government bars Bofors from entering into any defence contract with India.

    January 22, 1990: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registers complaint in the case.

    January 26, 1990: Swiss authorities freeze bank accounts of Svenska and AE Services, who allegedly received unauthorised commissions for the deal.

    February 17, 1992: Journalist Bo Anderson’s sensational report on the Bofors payoffs case published.

    December 1992: Supreme Court reverses a Delhi High Court decision quashing the complaint in the case.

    February 9, 1993: Supreme Court rejects former Bofors agent Win Chadha’s plea for quashing the letters rogatory sent by the trial court to its counterpart in Sweden seeking assistance in the case.

    July 12, 1993: Swiss federal court rules that India was entitled to Swiss bank documents pertaining to the kickbacks.

    July 29/30 1993: Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, who was representing Italian fertiliser firm Snam Progetti for several years, leaves India to avoid arrest warrant the CBI was seeking.

    January 21, 1997: After four years of legal wrangles, secret documents running into over 500 pages given to Indian authorities at a public ceremony in Berne.

    January 30, 1997: CBI constitutes special investigation team for the case.

    February 10, 1997: CBI questions ex-army chief General Krishnaswamy Sundarji.

    February 12, 1997: Letters rogatory issued to Malaysia and United Arab Emirates (UAE) seeking arrest of Quattrocchi and Win Chadha.

    May 1998: Delhi High Court rejects Quattrocchi’s plea for quashing of the ‘red corner’ notice issued by Interpol at the request of CBI.

    October 22, 1999: CBI files first chargesheet naming Win Chadha, Quattrocchi, former Indian defence secretary S.K. Bhatnagar, former Bofors chief Martin Ardbo and Bofors company. Former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s name figured as “an accused not sent for trial” as he was killed in 1991.

    November 7, 1999: Trial court issues arrest warrants against Quattrocchi, while summoning other four accused.

    December 13, 1999: CBI team goes to Malaysia to seek extradition of Quattrocchi; fails in its efforts.

    Early 2000: Quattrocchi approaches the Supreme Court for quashing of arrest warrant against him. Court asks him to appear before CBI for interrogation while protecting him from being arrested. Quattrocchi refuses to accept the order, saying his counsel misled the court.

    March 18, 2000: Chadha comes to India to face trial.

    July 29, 2000: Trial court issues “open non-bailable arrest warrants” against Ardbo.

    September 4, 2000: Chadha moves Supreme Court for permission to go to Dubai for treatment. Supreme Court rejects plea a week later.

    September 29, 2000: Hindujas issue statement in London saying funds received by them from Bofors had no connection with the gun deal.

    October 9, 2000: CBI files supplementary chargesheet naming Hinduja brothers as accused in the Bofors gun deal.

    December 20, 2000: Quattrocchi arrested in Malaysia, gets bail but is asked to stay within the country.

    August 6, 2001: Former defence secretary Bhatnagar dies of cancer.

    October 24, 2001: Win Chadha dies of heart attack at his New Delhi residence.

    November 15, 2002: Hinduja brothers formally charged with cheating, criminal conspiracy and corruption.

    December 2, 2002: Malaysian court denies India’s request for Quattrocchi’s extradition.

    July 28, 2003: Acting on India’s request, Britain freezes Quattrocchi’s bank accounts.

    January 4, 2004: Swiss authorities agree to consider CBI’s request for providing Quattrocchi’s bank details.

    February 4, 2004: Delhi High Court clears Rajiv Gandhi of involvement in the Bofors kickbacks scandal.

    May 31, 2005: Delhi High Court clears Hindujas of involvement in the scandal.

    Dec 31, 2005: The CBI tells Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), London, that it has not been able to link the money in two accounts of Quattrocchi with the Bofors kickbacks

    Jan 7, 2006: Two accounts of Quattrocchi in London banks containing 3 million euros and $1 million were defreezed after then additional solicitor general B. Dutta met the CPS lawyers.

    Feb 6, 2007: Quattrocchi detained at Iguazu international airport on an Interpol lookout notice.

    Feb 13, 2007: CBI writes to Ministry of External Affairs for Argentinean Extradition Act and tells Interpol Buenos Aires that documentation being prepared for extradition proceedings.

    Feb 24, 2007: Fresh warrant of arrest against Quattrocchi obtained from Delhi court

    Feb 26, 2007: Quattrochhi released on bail with condition that he does not leave Argentina.

    Feb 28, 2007: Two-member CBI team to leave for Argentina.

    http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_chronology-of-the-bofors-scandal_1082262

    Sonia Gandhi on Corruption:

    Asserting that Congress will take corruption head on, Congress President Sonia Gandhi today hailed as inspiring Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s assurance that he will takeforward her five-point action plan to battle the menace.

    “We will take corruption head on and demonstrate it through our actions and not through words alone. I had made specific suggestions in this regard (in the speech yesterday) and the prime minister, in his inspiring address this morning, assured us that he will take them forward,” she said in her remarks winding up the two-day Congress plenary here.

    http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_we-will-take-corruption-head-on-sonia-gandhi_1483881

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