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Sunday, Feb 25, 2007
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Court moved for directing CBI to pursue extradition

J. Venkatesan

`At an earlier hearing it withheld information about Quattrocchi's detention in Argentina'

New Delhi: An application was filed in the Supreme Court on Saturday for a direction to the Centre to take immediate steps for the extradition of Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, accused in the Rs. 64 crore Bofors pay-off case from Argentina, where he is detained.

The application, filed by advocate Ajay Agrawal, in a pending writ petition, sought a direction to the Central Bureau of Investigation to submit a status report on the steps taken for Quattrocchi's extradition.

Red Corner Notice

Mr. Agrawal said that he had filed a writ petition in the apex Court on January 12, 2006 for a direction that the amounts lying in the `de-frozen' accounts of Quattrocchi in London be not released to him as Red Corner Notice was already pending against him. Since the CBI took no action, Quattrocchi succeeded in withdrawing the amounts from the two accounts. Thereafter nothing was brought on record by the CBI as to the efforts taken by it in securing Quattrocchi's presence in India to face the trial.

In this situation, he filed an application again for a direction to the CBI to retrieve the money withdrawn by Quattrocchi from the de-frozen accounts so as to justify, to some extent at least, the statements being repeatedly made by the CBI before the trial court about its making efforts to secure Quattrocchi's presence.

When it was taken up on February 12, the Additional Solicitor General who appeared for the CBI maintained discreet silence and did not reveal anything about Quattrocchi's detention in Argentina and on the contrary tooth and nail opposed petitioner's application by repeatedly saying "nothing remained in the case." The very fact that the CBI had withheld information from this Court about Quattrocchi's detention in Argentina would amount to contempt of Court.

Since the CBI had not made any efforts promptly for Quattrocchi's extradition from Argentina, with which the Indian Government was not having extradition treaty, the petitioner was apprehensive of a repeat performance at the hands of the CBI of serious debacle as it did for de-freezing Quattrocchi's accounts and then facilitating withdrawal of amounts. He sought a direction to the respondents to take immediate and prompt steps for the extradition of Quattrocchi from Argentina without losing the deadline of limitation of 30 days from February 6 and submit a status report.

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