Bofors: Application opposes closure of case against Quattrocchi

Ahead of the crucial hearing in a Delhi court against Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi in Bofors gun deal payoff case, an application was today filed opposing any possible move by CBI to close the case against him.

The hearing before the chief metropolitan magistrate on October 3 assumes significance as the government had on Tuesday told the supreme court that it has decided to withdraw the case against Quattrocchi and CBI is likely to move an application in this regard. 

Advocate Ajay Agrawal, who has been pursuing the Bofors case in the supreme court, filed the application seeking rejection of any such move by the investigating agency
alleging that the centre has been trying to bail out the 69-year-old Italian businessman against whom "there is ample evidence for his prosecution".

The advocate referred to a case of 1984 anti-Sikh riots in which a trial court had in 2007 rejected a closure report against former union minister Jagdish Tytler and directed CBI to re-investigate his alleged role.

Agrawal had filed an appeal in the apex court against the Delhi high ourt's May 31, 2005, decision to quash charges against all other accused in the case after CBI failed to
challenge it within the mandatory 90-day period.