His name though legendary within the annals of Indian cinema was dragged into the Bofors scam that happened almost 25 years back during his tryst as a political candidate. However, Amitabh Bachchan has since been vindicated from all of the fracas following a clean chit from former Swedish police Chief Sten Lindstrom.
Commenting on his exoneration, Bachchan stated on his blog, "I speak from personal experience and private exoneration. 25 years after the incident, I read today from one who pioneered accusation and investigation, of innocence. Of the fault that never lay before me. Of 1 that remained and shall perhaps remain a darkened spot, blemished beyond all recognition, but in admittance of wrong doing against me". Adding later, "NO PERSON will be in a position to understand and even remotely fathom, the hours and days and months and years of the anguish of petulant blame that I needed to undergo... They won momentarily. But lost ultimately. Lost position and strength and gear yes, but importantly their conscience. And today that counts essentially the most"!
With regards to how he and his family were suffering from all of the scenario that developed Bachchan says, "My family and that i are happy to notice the statement made by Former Swedish Police Head investigating the Bofors - India Gun deal. Mr. Lindstorm has stated that we were innocent and that there has been never ever any evidence to suggest our involvement. The interview indicates that it took Mr. Lindstorm 25 future years out with the reality. For us as a family that has borne the humiliation and insults for the past 25 years, this comes as a vindication of our stand. What was most annoying for me was the pain of insinuation that my ageing parents needed to bear during their lifetime. What has also been most alarming have been the statement given by the Police Head that my name was "planted" deliberately when he had indeed, already through his investigation, not found us guilty. When the accusations were made my family and that i moved the London courts and proved our innocence. We won our case and were delighted that the reality had eventually been justified. But, for the previous Police Head to haven't stated then what he always knew, is most surprising. The abuse, humiliation and the castigation that our family bore for 25 years has now been vindicated, finally."
The Bofors scandal that had rocked the Indian political scene, involved bribing and illegal payoffs within the late 1980s with accusations made against the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in addition to Bachchan, who was then a Congress MP, for alleged involvement within the illegal deals.
