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 in New Delhi before Special Judge Ajit Bharihoke, who fixed November 20 for passing "appropriate" orders on the chargesheet.

Monday's chargesheet comes a year after the first one was filed before the same Judge in the 13-year-old case naming Italian businessman Ottavio Quattorcchi, former Bofors agent Win Chadha, former defence secretary SK Bhatnagar, former Bofors chief Martin Ardbo and the Bofors company. Former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's name had also figured in the first chargesheet as "accused not sent for trial."

The CBI, which went ahead with the supplementary chargesheet only days after Hindujas had publicly stated that the money paid to them by the Bofors Company had nothing to do with the Rs 1,437 crore gun deal signed in 1986, said it might seek their extradition. "CBI might seek their extradition at an appropriate time with the permission of the court," CBI's special public prosecutor N Natrajan said about the three brothers, two of whom are British nationals.

The three Hinduja brothers were chargesheeted under section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating) of Indian Penal Code and under sections 5(2) and 5(1)(D) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The chargesheet filed by the CBI on Monday is supported by the statements of eight witnesses. CBI alleged that Hindujas received a sum of 81 million Swedish Kroners (about $2.4 million) after the Indian government paid 21 per cent of the total contract amount to AB Bofors in May 1986.

The agency said that Hindujas had deposited the amount in three Swiss Banks - Swiss Bank Corporation, Credit Swisse Bank and Hanover Manufacturer's Trust. CBI had alleged that Bofors paid kickbacks to various persons including Hindujas, Quattrocchi and Chadha for securing the contract for supply of 400 Bofors 155 mm Howitzer guns to India in 1986. Hindujas on September 28 had said in London that they had given statements under oath to the Swiss investigating judge that the funds received by them from Bofors company had no relation to the gun deal with India, in support of their contention of non-involvement in the case.