The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:
The ruling by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal that Rs. 41.2 crore was paid as kickbacks to Win Chadha and Ottavio Quattrocchi have once again confirmed that high level corruption was involved in the Bofors gun deal. The Tribunal has decreed that they have to pay tax on the commissions received.
However, despite all the evidence available, the CBI and the judicial system have failed to pinpoint the guilty and take action. Instead of trying to close the case without anyone being found accountable, what is required is pursuance of the case and bringing the guilty to trial.
The way the Bofors case has been handled to allow the guilty to go unpunished is a continuing reminder that there is no check against corruption in high places. If the people have to have any confidence that the recent large-scale corruption cases will be investigated and acted upon, the Bofors case will have to be pursued without let-up.
