The CBI today pleaded for withdrawal of proceedings against Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi in the over two-decade-old Bofors payoff case.
A day after the income tax tribunal verdict virtually demolished its argument supporting the withdrawal of the case against Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, the CBI on Tuesday sought to present a brave face before a Delhi court, saying there was “nothing new” in the tribunal’s order that would obstruct its appeal.
“I am not disputing what the tribunal has said. That is the case of prosecutor (CBI) also and it is mentioned in the chargesheet. There is nothing new,” additional solicitor general PP Malhotra told chief metropolitan magistrate Vinod Yadav.
The CBI, in October 2009, had sought permission of the court to withdraw the case against Quattrocchi, saying his continued prosecution was “unjustified” in the light of various factors, including the failed attempts of CBI to extradite him. However, its case appeared to have taken a beating after the I-T tribunal ruled that a kickback of Rs41 crore was paid to both Quattrocchi and former Bofors agent Win Chadha.
Law minister M Veerappa Moily’s statement that the government would look into the tribunal’s order seemed to have queered the agency’s pitch. It dominated the three-hour proceedings in the court.
Judge Vinod Yadav, while pointing out that the tax tribunal ruling “is different as it is a different forum altogether”, also sought the response of the government to the minister’s statement.
“I would like to know your comments on the law minister’s statement,” Yadav told the CBI’s counsel. Malhotra, however, said that he was not aware of any such statement. He said he hadn’t got any fresh instruction from the government pertaining to the withdrawal of the case in the light of the tribunal’s order.
He said he was not disputing the tribunal’s order but maintained that the CBI’s application for withdrawal of the proceedings against Quattrocchi was filed after examining all aspects of the case.
The then attorney general (AG) Milon Banerjee and solicitor general Goolam E Vahanvati, who is now the AG, had opined that the Bofors case be closed, he said. “We have tried for the extradition five times and have spend nearly Rs250 crore, with no result. So there is no point of dragging on the case now,” Malhotra said.
During the inconclusive arguments that may continue on January 6 as well, Supreme Court lawyer Ajay Agarwal said the CBI is trying to protect Quattrocchi as he has always been “very close” to the Gandhi family.
“There is neither bonafide public interest nor good faith behind the CBI’s decision to withdraw the case,” he added.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}