CBI sticks to its stand on Quattrochi

The Central Bureau of Investigation on Thursday told a court that there is no change in the Indian government?s stand on withdrawing the case against Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, the key accused in Bofors kick back scam, in the wake of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) order in the case.

Additional Solicitor General P P Malhotra said the judgement of the tribunal was ‘wholly irrelevant’ and reliance on it was totally misconceived.

Malhotra said there had been no change in the stand of the Union government after Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vinod Yadav queried about the government?s position on the issue.

The court had on Tuesday reserved its order on the plea.

The CBI has stuck to its stand even after the Income Tax Tribunal’s order severely indicted Quattrochi.

The central agency had pleaded before the court on Tuesday that the ruling of Income Tax Appellate Tribunal in Bofors pay offs case is “nothing new” and its application for withdrawing the proceedings against Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi should be allowed.

Justifying its closure report, the CBI had earlier contended that it was difficult to secure presence of Quattrocchi for prosecution and that all other accused were either dead or charges against them had been quashed by the Delhi High Court.

The CBI had failed on two occasions in its attempt to get Quattrocchi extradited – first from Malaysia in 2003 and then from Argentina in 2007.

Last November, the agency had asked the Interpol to take Quattrocchi’s name off the Red Corner notice list.