The Bofors Arms Purchase scandal began 20 years ago but seldom does a month go by when some new item relating to it does not appear in the news.
Now India’s income tax department says that over $9 million in kickbacks were paid to Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi and an Indian arms dealer, Win Chadha, since deceased.
Sweden’s AB Bofors (now part of BAE) was alleged to have paid $1.3 billion in bribes during the sale of 400 howitzers to India in 1986, when Rajiv Gandhi, (the late husband of Italian born Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi) was prime minister.
Last updated: December 26th, 2025
