Author: PTI
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: April 28, 2009
URL: http://www.dailypioneer.com/172628/Quattrocchi-out-of-CBI-Interpol-lists.html
Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, an
accused in the Bofors payoffs case, has been taken off the CBI list of wanted
persons, sparking a protest by Opposition parties which demanded an immediate
probe into the working of the agency for the last five years.
Following a communication from the CBI, the
Interpol has taken Quattrocchi's name off the Red Corner notice lingering
for the last one decade.
BJP prime ministerial candidate LK Advani
said "this is a very serious issue". "It is not a question
of Quattrocchi alone but the entire role of the agency during the last five
years which should be probed".
Putting up a brave defence, the Government
said it had no role to play in the move by the agency which took the decision
on the basis of a legal opinion given by Attorney General Milon Banerjee in
October last year.
CBI spokesman Harsh Bahal said, "The
case has been under trial in the courts since 1999. CBI has taken action on
the basis of legal advice of the highest order. We will inform the competent
court on the next date of hearing (April 30, 2009)."
