Chitra Subramaniam Claims Amitabh Bachchan Unfairly Linked to Bofors Scandal
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Synopsis
Chitra Subramaniam discusses how Amitabh Bachchan was wrongfully implicated in the Bofors scandal by a fabricated story. She highlights the lack of evidence and the media's role in perpetuating the false narrative.
Key Takeaways
- Amitabh Bachchan was wrongfully implicated in the Bofors scandal.
- There was no evidence of his involvement.
- The narrative was created as part of a vicious campaign.
- Subramaniam faced pressure from authorities to find evidence against the Bachchans.
- Her refusal to publish without confirmation led to vindication.
New Delhi, March 17 (NationPress) Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan was wrongfully implicated in the Bofors scandal through a fabricated story that connected him to a clandestine Swiss account for alleged kickbacks from the Swedish arms manufacturer, according to journalist Chitra Subramaniam.
"There was absolutely no evidence to suggest that he (Amitabh Bachchan) had received any money. However, the narrative was so distorted that once it was clarified, the harm was already inflicted," Subramaniam stated in an interview with IANS.
"Consider the esteemed name of the Bachchans; it's quite significant..."
In her newly released book, Boforsgate: A Journalist’s Pursuit of Truth, Subramaniam describes the pressure she faced to uncover any links between the Bachchans -- the legendary actor and his brother Ajitabh -- as their names emerged in the scandal. She holds a faction of the then government and media responsible for attempting to ensnare the Bollywood superstar, who was a Lok Sabha member from Allahabad at that time.
"Concerning the sixth account... it didn’t exist. It was a fabrication by Indian government officials," she asserted, criticizing both the media and certain officials from prominent legal bodies for their "careless" remarks.
"As a journalist, you must refrain from speaking loosely... Especially if you hold a prestigious position, every statement must be made with caution. The office of the Solicitor General of India or the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) must approach discussions with Swiss authorities with care; every word is valuable..." she elaborated.
In her book, Subramaniam highlights that an Indian delegation, including many senior officials, mentioned the Bachchans and some Italian relatives of the Prime Minister during a discussion with Bofors representatives.
She recalls traveling with an official Indian delegation to Switzerland in 1990. After meeting with Swiss officials, a team member discreetly informed her about a "sixth account" that was unblocked due to ties to an individual not mentioned in the FIR. This team member alleged that the Swiss were provided with a list of names, including the Bachchans, and indicated their involvement. She speculated that the attempt to link the Bachchans was due to their proximity to the Gandhi family.
Subramaniam mentions that she made 18 attempts to contact her sources "Snowman" in Switzerland and "Sting" in Sweden for verification but received no confirmation, with both sources advising her to take a break.
The story emerged in two Swedish publications and subsequently appeared in various Indian newspapers. Subramaniam noted that many questioned her oversight of the story but she remained firm in her decision to wait for independent verification and was ultimately vindicated.
In her book, she also recounts a dinner meeting with the Bachchans where the conversation shifted to Bofors, and she informed him that she had found no evidence against him.
When asked about Amitabh Bachchan's silence on the accusations and his resignation as an MP in 1987, Subramaniam described him as a "gentleman to the core."
"What can one say when the accusation is so unfounded? Where does one even begin?" she remarked.
Subramaniam elaborated on her initial contact with Ajitabh Bachchan in Switzerland, despite restrictions preventing her from meeting him at his home. He later reached out to her by phone before she met Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan. She described subsequent meetings and noted how both she and her family were struck by his extensive knowledge beyond cinema.
However, her connection with the Big B and her refusal to endorse the fabricated story resulted in a barrage of negative press and character attacks from a segment of the Indian media at that time.
"Reflecting back, when people ask why Amitabh was targeted, I believe it stemmed from envy. He was someone who didn’t need wealth or fame; he stood alone in his own right. There was a desire to undermine him... the cruelty of it all was appalling," Subramaniam told IANS.
