Sushma's salvo at Congress: Know all about Adil Shahryar, Rajiv Gandhi's childhood friend

External Affair Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday bowled over Congress on penultimate day of the Parliament Session. She asked Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi to check his family history first before raising fingers at her.

In reply to Congress's allegations on Lalit Modi, Sushma launched a no-holds-barred attack on the grand old party. BJP Minister accused Congress of doing favour to Ottavio Quattrochchi and Warren Anderson fleeing India.

"Rajiv Gandhi had allowed Anderson to flee in a quid pro quo arrangement with the US", livid Swaraj said in the House.

Taking a dig at Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi , she said, "He should read. And when he comes back, he should ask, 'Mumma, how much money did we take from Quattrochi (accused in Bofors scandal)?'".

Citing Congress's veteran Arjun Singh's autobiography on Bhopal gas tragedy, Swarj alleged that former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi did quid pro quo deal with US to secure release of Adil Shahryar.

Shahryar and his relation with Gandhi family

• He was a childhood friend of both Rajiv, Sanjay Gandhi.
• Shahryar who died in 1990 was the son of former diplomat Mohammad Yunus
• Mohammad Yunus who was close family friend of Nehru family had served as India's ambassador to Turkey, Indonesia, Iraq and Spain.

Charge against Adil

• Reportedly, Shahryar was arrested by US police in August 1981 on the charge of attempting to firebomb a ship
• On August 30, 1981, former diplomat's son was taken in the custody by Florida court after finding him guilty on 5 charges.
• According to Rediff news, charges were attempting to firebomb a ship, false statements on various certificates in connection with the shipment, mail fraud, making of a firearm (the bombs) and use of a firearm (the bombs) in the commission of a felony.
• He was later sentenced to 35 years of imprisonment by the court.

When Rajiv allegedly secured his release

• On Wednesday, Sushma alleged that Rajiv Gandhi made a deal with then US President Ronald Reagan on the issue.
• According to the deal, US will release Adil and India will then oblige them by giving safe passage to Union Carbide Chairman Warren Anderson, facing trial in Bhopal gas case.
• It is being said that Adil got President's clemency just before Rajiv Gandhi's scheduled visit to the country.

What was Rajiv Gandhi's reaction

• Rajiv Gandhi had denied that he urged US president to release Adil, though he believed that he(Adil) was framed in the case.
• He was quoted by a daily saying, "We do believe that he has been wrongly imprisoned."