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From Tehelka Archives
January 18, 2001

At last! The Hindujas

come calling home

The elusive trio arrives in India to clear their name in the Bofors controversy, writes manish chand

he elusive London-based Hin- the shores, a day before their scheduled Because they have nothing to fear,
duja brothers, prime accused appearance before the special court of they can well damn their enemies, who
in the 64 crore Bofors pay- Ajit Bharihoke. No one is sure exactly are hell-bent on blowing up their dili-
off case, come calling home when they will appear in the court, but gently acquired wealth in an imaginary
T at long last. It’s a homecom- their counsel Ujjawal Rana unriddled Bofors blitz.
ing that many have been waiting for the enigma, as it were, in that utterly The presumption of guilt is indeed
with a breathless hush. Their unofficial self-effacing manner: “They would wait galling, as the suave Rana would have
host, the Central Bureau of Investigation for their turn and appear whenever the liked to argue. Preferring majestic state-
(CBI), is the most enthusiastic. ments of innocence, Rana
Not ones who would like to says, “They will appear before
be summoned, (more used to the court tomorrow. They
summoning heads of state as firmly believe that the allega-
they are, the story goes) the fa- tions made against them in
mous trio has decided to give the Bofors case were false and
India a taste of their guts and motivated.”
grit.
One needs real courage to he Hindujas have noth-
stake one’s life and reputation, ing to fear and nothing
but a firm assurance from the T to prove except their
CBI also helps. The Hinduja’s innocence. They are not fugi-
court appearance in the Bo- tives from the law, who would
fors pay-off case was cleared run away from the judicial
on January 10 only after the process, as Rana says with a
CBI had asked the immigra- flourish, and then lapse into
tion authorities not to detain that mother of all clichés: ‘The
or arrest them on their arrival law will take its won course.”
in India. Yes, for over a decade that’s
Outraged at the sustained what the law has been doing,
blitz of charges being made having a six-course meal al-
against them in the Bofors most every year, and still hun-
pay-off case for over a decade, gry for that damning clue that
the three brothers didn’t need will finally solve the Bofors
a CBI summons to come to mystery.
India and clear their billion- That may, or may not, hap-
dollar brand name. pen. But the sheer presence of
For the Hindujas are honourable men, court takes up the matter. “ Call it the fa- the Hindujas in the court will be quite a
as their counsel says in a dramatically bled Hindujas’ humility or an extension spectacle for the thrill-starved paparazzi.
plain manner. And they want it to be of their awe-inspiring ‘faith zone.’ Not that they are very photogenic. But if
known in India that they have nothing to Their counsel Ujjawal Rana makes it one does manage to access the reclusive
hide. Yes, there is a plenty of business to a point to stress the law-abiding creden- brothers’ famous family albums, one can
do in their trademark low-key style, mi- tials of his fabulously wealthy clients. The count more heads of state in one place
nus the infamous Bofors blast. legal eagle that he is, Rana knows how to than in any other.
That’s why, despite no summons phrase his words, “They will appear be-
from the CBI, the Hinduja brothers hit fore the court tomorrow.” LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM

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