On Sunday morning, almost 12 hours before the Paradise Papers’ report by Indian Express became public, Amitabh Bachchan blogged about being grilled, humiliated and abused for several years for his alleged involvement in the Bofors scandal and later the Panama Papers leak.
Bachchan began his blog by addressing the recent allegations in the media on the issue of illegal constructions, for which legal notices were served to him by the BMC. The actor went on to tell his readers to not direct their anger against the media who were mere messengers. Big B also states that he would as always follow the law of the land in all such matters.
The veteran actor then bares his heart about what he and his family went through in trying to prove their innocence in the Bofors scandal.
There were allegations against my family and me in the Bofors Scandal .. for years we were grilled, declared traitors, abused and humiliated by the hour for several years .. when it became unbearable, we moved Court in the United Kingdom - for the requirement of speedy Justice .. we moved against a UK paper and won .. BUT surprisingly those that accused us for years, never did come to the Courts of Justice to verify or justify their allegation .. moving Court was an open invitation to them that sought our necks, to come to an invited open forum and claim their allegation .. !! None came .. !
Almost 25 years later .. one of the chief prosecutors of the Country that was involved in the matter, stated through a public platform that our names were asked to be planted in the scandal !! Planted ..???!!!!When the media carried the news here in India, the press during one of its interactions with me asked me what I was going to do about it .. whether I would seek information on who did it, or seek retribution .. !!! WHAT RETRIBUTION AND INFORMATION WILL I SEEK ..? WILL IT TAKE AWAY THE YEARS OF SUFFERING AND MENTAL TORTURE THAT WE WENT THROUGH .. !!?? WILL IT CURE .. WILL IT REST .. ??NO IT WILL NOT .. so I told them, the media, I do not wish to make any comment on it .. the matter is over for me .. !
Bachchan also writes about his name appearing in the Panama Papers.
In recent months I find my name appear again in the leaks of Panama, as produced by the Indian Express .. the paper has asked for reactions, for responses, for justification or not, for replies to their investigative queries ..Two instant replies were given out by us .. of denial and misuse of name .. they were printed .. but the questions continued .. Immediately after this, the System took over and since its revelation in the Express, has Summoned me .. at least 6 Summons have been served to us and continue to come .. EACH one of them have been diligently, dutifully and duly replied to .. personal appearances have been ordered, and we have made them at the varied different Agency Offices, both in Mumbai and in Delhi, both from Tax and Enforcement Departments and of their respective Intelligence Wings .. they seek more information each time and we provide them .. for some we seek time because the queries asked, refer to matters that are more than almost 25 years old .. it takes a while to dig out old files and to compile all that they want .. the fullest cooperation has been extended at all hours as dutiful citizens .. and even after, if there is any more query that needs to be addressed, we shall comply ..
It is the norm .. Tomorrow there could be more .. and the process of our cooperation shall continue .. it is the norm .. it is the Law of the land .. it shall be abided by .. Law does not entertain bias or favour .. it is stark and precise and offers judgement .. a judgement we respect and adhere to and obey .. it is our Constitutional obligation ..We are devoted and extend belief to it .. as must we all should ..
And finally, Bachchan expresses that he has had enough of being dragged into scandals and law suits.
BUT in conclusion: at this age and time of my life I seek peace and freedom from prominence .. to be left to lead the last few years of my life with and within myself .. I do not seek epithets, I abhor them .. I do not seek headlines, I do not deserve them .. I do not seek acknowledgement, I am not qualified for it ..
Many years ago I had come across a Jewish joke: A Jew, passes away and goes to Heaven, knocks on the door of the LORD, and having suffered the ostracised life that the community has, asks the LORD :“ Lord ! Is it true that we are the ‘chosen’ people ..?”The LORD looked benevolently at the Jew and in a most gentle voice replied :“Yes my son .. you are the chosen people ..”And the Jew replied :“ Dear LORD .. would you mind choosing someone else for a change .. coz’ we’ve had enough !!” I OFTEN WISH THAT FOR MYSELF ..Amitabh Bachchan
The angry young man’s timing continues to be perfect.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)