NEW DELHI, Oct 9 — In a significant development in the Rs 64-crore Bofors pay-offs case, the CBI today chargesheeted the Europe-based three Hinduja brothers —Srichand, Gopichand and Prakashchand — for allegedly receiving 81 million Swedish Kroners from the Swedish gun manufacturer.

London-based Hinduja group chairman Srichand, his younger brother and group president Gopichand and Geneva-based Prakashchand were named as accused in the 11-page supplementary chargesheet filed before Special Judge Ajit Bharihoke, who fixed November 20 for passing “appropriate” orders on the chargesheet.

The CBI alleged that Hindujas received a sum of 81 million Swedish Kroners from the gun manufacturers after Indian government paid 21 per cent of the total contract amount of Rs 1437 crore to A.B. Bofors in May 1986.

The agency alleged that the Hindujas deposited the amount in three Swiss banks — Swiss Bank Corporation, Credit Swisse Bank and Hanover Manufacturer’s Trust.

A team of CBI officials led by DIG O.P. Galhotra and Special Public Prosecutor N. Natarajan later filed the chargesheet and supporting documents.

The three Hinduja brothers have been chargesheeted under Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code and under Section 5(2) and 5(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The chargesheet filed by the CBI today is supported by the statements of eight witnesses.

“The CBI might seek their extradition at an appropriate time with the permission of the court,” the agency’s Special Public Prosecutor Natrajan said about the three brothers, two of whom are British nationals.

The chargesheet was filed after the CBI got sixth set of Bofors documents relating to five bank accounts Tulip, Mont Blanc, Lotus, Pitco and Jubliee Finance, allegedly held by Hindujas.

The CBI had earlier chargesheeted Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, former Bofors agent Win Chadha, former Defence Secretary S.K. Bhatnagar, former Bofors Chief Martin Ardbo and the Bofors company.

Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s name had figured as “accused not sent for trial.”

The CBI had alleged that the Bofors paid kickbacks to various persons, including Hindujas, Quattrocchi and Chadha for securing the contract for the supply of 400 Bofors 155 mm Howitzer guns to India in 1986.

The agency alleged that this was in breach of the conditions put by the Indian Government that there would be no middlemen or payment of commission in the deal.

LONDON (PTI): The Hinduja brothers on Monday night accused the CBI of filing a “hurried” chargesheet against them in the Bofors case in an “unfair and unjust manner” but promised to abide by the legal process.