Citing a Delhi High Court ruling, Special Judge R. L. Chugh said the trial in the case would proceed against the Hinduja brothers — Srichand Prakashchand and Gopichand — former Defence Secretary S.K. Bhatnagar, Bofors agent Win Chadha and the AB Bofors company.

The trial of Martin Ardbo and Quattrocchi will be taken up separately after they are arrested and brought to India.

The judge ordered the trial of the six accused would commence on July. The CBI has been pressing for separation of the trial to expedite the case as the extradition proceedings against Quattrocchi and the arrest of Martin Ardbo are likely to take some time.

On April 27, the high court had asked the CBI to delink the trial of the accused who are already before the court here and those who are yet to be extradited. The court had given the permission while denying permission to the Hindujas to go abroad.

The Hindujas had been arguing that they be allowed to go abroad as the trial in the case was unlikely to start before Quattrocchi and Ardbo joined the proceedings.

Mr Justice S.K. Aggarwal, however, said the lower court must hold the trial as expeditiously as possible, preferably on a day-to-day basis. In case the CBI fails to conclude its evidence within six months from the first date of hearing, then the Hindujas may seek permission to go abroad.

In that eventuality, the court would consider their pleas on the condition that they deposit $ 11.84 million along with 10 per cent annual interest from January 1, 1990, till the date of payment in any nationalised bank in a fixed deposit.

The three Hinduja brothers have been charged with receiving 81 million Swedish kroners from the arms manufacturer AB Bofors for fixing the Rs 1,437 crore deal for 155 mm Howitzer guns in 1986. They first appeared before the trial court on January 19 subsequent to the court issuing summons against them, after taking cognisance of the CBI charge sheet filed on October 12 last year.

Additional Sessions Judge Ajit Bharihoke granted them bail but directed them to appear before the CBI for interrogation. They were also told not to leave the country without the court’s permission.

During hearings, the Hindujas had sought permission to go abroad as their homes, families and businesses are in London and Geneva. The Bofors trial is in the initial stages and its conclusion may take several years or decades.

While India has initiated attempts to extradite Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, who is currently based in Malaysia, no such attempts have been made against Swedish executive Martin Ardbo who headed the Bofors company at that time.