CBI to get copy of VP’s testimony

The bench said it would welcome any information and help from any citizen in investigating the matter and the court had no objection in passing on the information to CBI.

Wadehra said V P Singh, who resigned from the Rajiv Gandhi ministry as defence minister after the kickback controversy came to light following a fax message from the Indian ambassador in Germany, had given fulldetails of his talks with Gandhi regarding the deal.

This, the petitioner said, was very `vital’ and could be extremely helpful in investigating the matter.

Meanwhile, additional solicitor general R N Trivedi told the court that German authorities in a recent communication had informed CBI that the matter was being pursued by their justice ministry and legal opinion for further action on the letters rogatory.

This process would take at least eight weeks, Trivedi said.

Trivedi said till the German justice ministry takes a decision on the letters rogatory sent by the CBI, the authorities in Bonn would not be able to proceed further.

Regarding the court’s query about a specific time-frame for completing the probe, he said it all depends upon further action taken by the German government.

CBI had been pursuing the matter through diplomatic and independent channels with the German authortities from time to time, he said.

The agency also handed over the copies of relevant German tax laws, especiallypertaining to German companies’ dealings abroad to the high court for its perusal.

Wadhera in his writ petition had sought the court’s direction to CBI to conclude the probe expeditiously.

CBI in its FIR registered in March, 1990 had named former defence secretary and Sikkim Governor S K Bhatnagar, former additional secretary (defence) S S Sidhu, former additional financial advisor (defence ministry) B S Ramaswamy, former Indian Navy captain M Kondath and the vice-chief of naval staff vice admiral Schunker as accused.

It also named as accused industrialist Gopi Chand Hinduja, the New Delhi-based firm Roger Enterprises and some German companies. The bribe money was suspected to have been routed through some Swiss banks, the FIR had alleged.