The Hindu : Front Page : Manmohan: it was CBI's decision

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 17, 2006

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Manmohan: it was CBI's decision

Sushanta Talukdar

Government had no role in de-freeezing accounts

GUWAHATI: Action on both freezing and de-freezing of Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi's bank accounts has been taken at the level of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in consultation with Law officers as per the established procedure, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Monday.

"Neither the freezing was done under government orders nor has the de-freezing been done under Government orders. These matters are exclusively under the functional jurisdiction of [the] CBI in which government does not interfere," Dr. Singh said reading out a statement at a press conference here.

The Prime Minister said his Government had never interfered with the CBI in matters of investigation. "Autonomy of [the] CBI will be preserved under this government at all costs," he said.

``As per procedure''

"A controversy has been sought to be created about certain steps taken by the CBI in the matter relating to the freezing of the Quattrocchi bank account. Actions relating to both the freezing and the de-freezing of these accounts have been taken at the level of the CBI in consultations with Law officers as per established procedure," he added.

The Prime Minister said that all steps taken in this matter were in accordance with established procedure in such cases.

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