Timeline of Bofors scandal

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.