The Income Tax Department auctioned a Mumbai flat of late Win Chadha — an alleged middleman whose name cropped up in the Bofors deal case — for over ₹12 crore to recover his multi-crore dues.
The flat was located at Palacimo Residential Society at Malabar Hills.
The tax recovery unit (international taxation) of the department in Delhi had last month issued a ‘proclamation of sale’ notice with regard to the flat in an alleged tax default case against Hersh Chadha, who is also the legal heir of Win Chadha.
Win Chadha died in 2001 at the age of 77.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had registered an FIR in 1990 against Martin Ardbo, the then president of AB Bofors, Chadha and the Hinduja brothers for probing alleged corruption charges in the purchase of 400 155mm howitzer guns for the Indian Army.
The case had become a political hot potato with the name of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and others being dragged into the scandal after the Swedish Radio on April 16, 1987 claimed that the Bofors company had paid bribes to top Indian politicians and defence personnel to bag the deal.
The CBI had also charge-sheeted Win Chadha, who died during the course of this case.
The income tax dues pertained to alleged receipt of commission from Bofors, a Swedish company, by Win Chadha that was allegedly not disclosed by him to tax authorities in India.
The I-T asset sale notice said ₹224,02,34,972 (plus interest amount) is due on “defaulter” Hersh W Chadha as he is the legal heir of Win Chadha.
The auctioned flat has been identified as ‘E-1, Palacimo, 5th Floor, Silver Oak estate, Bhulabhai Desai Road, Mumbai-400026’.
