ID :
79196
Thu, 09/10/2009 - 08:28
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/79196
The shortlink copeid
Court allows CBI 2 weeks to explore options in Bofors case
New Delhi, Sep 8 (PTI) A Delhi court on Tuesday allowed
a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) plea seeking two weeks
time for exploring the options available to it in Bofors
payoff case after the withdrawal of Interpol's Red Corner
notice against Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi.
Metropolitan Magistrate Manish Yaduvanshi granted the
time to the probe agency after Additional Solicitor General P
P Malhotra submitted that the matter was under consideration
of the Centre and CBI.
"The matter is still under consideration of the central
government and the process of consultation is likely to take
some more time," Malhotra and CBI counsel Naveen Kumar Matta
said.
They sought adjournment of the matter for two weeks to
enable CBI to place the status report.
Malhotra also referred to the submission made on the
last date of hearing on April 30 when CBI had sought two
months time for filing the status report in the matter.
The court, taking his submissions into account during a
brief hearing, posted the matter for October 3.
The Interpol had in November last year withdrawn the
Red Corner Notice against Quattrocchi, which was first issued
in 1997, following a communication from CBI.
Quattrocchi was declared a proclaimed offender as he
did not appear to face trial and, as a result, charges could
not be framed against him despite two chargesheets in the
19-year-old Bofors payoff case.
CBI had on April 30 sought two months time after the
court asked it what options were available to it following the
withdrawl of Red Corner Notice against Quattrocchi.
The FIR in the case was registered on January 22, 1990,
three years after Swedish Radio alleged that A B Bofors, the
makers of the 155mm howitzer guns, had paid kickbacks to top
Indian politicians and key defence officials to secure the Rs
1,437-crore gun deal.
Quattrocchi is the sole surviving accused in the Bofors
case after three accused Win Chaddha, former Defence Secretary
S K Bhatnagar and former Bofors Chief Martin Ardbo died during
the court proceedings and four others Hinduja brothers
Srichand, Gopichand and Prakashchand and the Bofors company
were acquitted by the Delhi High Court in 2005.
Quattrocchi had never appeared before the court to face
charges in the Bofors payoff case despite several warrants.
PTI ATP
a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) plea seeking two weeks
time for exploring the options available to it in Bofors
payoff case after the withdrawal of Interpol's Red Corner
notice against Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi.
Metropolitan Magistrate Manish Yaduvanshi granted the
time to the probe agency after Additional Solicitor General P
P Malhotra submitted that the matter was under consideration
of the Centre and CBI.
"The matter is still under consideration of the central
government and the process of consultation is likely to take
some more time," Malhotra and CBI counsel Naveen Kumar Matta
said.
They sought adjournment of the matter for two weeks to
enable CBI to place the status report.
Malhotra also referred to the submission made on the
last date of hearing on April 30 when CBI had sought two
months time for filing the status report in the matter.
The court, taking his submissions into account during a
brief hearing, posted the matter for October 3.
The Interpol had in November last year withdrawn the
Red Corner Notice against Quattrocchi, which was first issued
in 1997, following a communication from CBI.
Quattrocchi was declared a proclaimed offender as he
did not appear to face trial and, as a result, charges could
not be framed against him despite two chargesheets in the
19-year-old Bofors payoff case.
CBI had on April 30 sought two months time after the
court asked it what options were available to it following the
withdrawl of Red Corner Notice against Quattrocchi.
The FIR in the case was registered on January 22, 1990,
three years after Swedish Radio alleged that A B Bofors, the
makers of the 155mm howitzer guns, had paid kickbacks to top
Indian politicians and key defence officials to secure the Rs
1,437-crore gun deal.
Quattrocchi is the sole surviving accused in the Bofors
case after three accused Win Chaddha, former Defence Secretary
S K Bhatnagar and former Bofors Chief Martin Ardbo died during
the court proceedings and four others Hinduja brothers
Srichand, Gopichand and Prakashchand and the Bofors company
were acquitted by the Delhi High Court in 2005.
Quattrocchi had never appeared before the court to face
charges in the Bofors payoff case despite several warrants.
PTI ATP
