NEW DELHI, April 28: The CBI’s decision to strike off Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, the lone surviving suspect in the Bofors gun payoff case, from its list of wanted persons sparked fresh controversy today with the BJP accusing the Congress of turning the investigating agency into the “Congress Bureau of Investigation”.
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) spokesperson Harsh Bahl said the agency would inform the special judge of a Delhi court, trying the 1987 case of the Rs 640-million payoff for the Swedish howitzer guns, of the decision during the next hearing on April 30.
The 12-year Interpol Red Corner Notice, or lookout notice, against Quattrocchi was taken off from the wanted section of the agency’s website reportedly on the legal advice of Attorney General Milon Banerjee in October last year. It is not known exactly when his name was withdrawn.
According to Banerjee, the investigating agency did not have any basis to keep Quattrocchi’s name listed in the Interpol Red Corner Notice, especially when it lost the case for his extradition from Argentina in February 2007.
With the CBI’s move coming into the open today, just two days before the third round of India’s five phase general elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party went on the offensive against the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government.
BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley said the CBI has lost its credibility after the Bofors case. He said that UPA government is supporting its friends and the CBI has become an embarrassment for the country.
Describing the move as the Congress’ “gift” to Quattrocchi “by the first family of Congress that has been close to him”, BJP general secretary Ravi Shankar Prasad said: “The appeal of CBI has surpassed all civil norms. What has pained me is the patent use of highest officers. The Congress has been blatantly misusing the CBI.” n See Page-6 THE SENTINEL
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) spokesperson Harsh Bahl said the agency would inform the special judge of a Delhi court, trying the 1987 case of the Rs 640-million payoff for the Swedish howitzer guns, of the decision during the next hearing on April 30.
The 12-year Interpol Red Corner Notice, or lookout notice, against Quattrocchi was taken off from the wanted section of the agency’s website reportedly on the legal advice of Attorney General Milon Banerjee in October last year. It is not known exactly when his name was withdrawn.
According to Banerjee, the investigating agency did not have any basis to keep Quattrocchi’s name listed in the Interpol Red Corner Notice, especially when it lost the case for his extradition from Argentina in February 2007.
With the CBI’s move coming into the open today, just two days before the third round of India’s five phase general elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party went on the offensive against the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government.
BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley said the CBI has lost its credibility after the Bofors case. He said that UPA government is supporting its friends and the CBI has become an embarrassment for the country.
Describing the move as the Congress’ “gift” to Quattrocchi “by the first family of Congress that has been close to him”, BJP general secretary Ravi Shankar Prasad said: “The appeal of CBI has surpassed all civil norms. What has pained me is the patent use of highest officers. The Congress has been blatantly misusing the CBI.” n See Page-6 THE SENTINEL
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