Quattrocchi's expulsion, CBI leaves to Argentina

New Delhi, Feb 25: With the March seven deadline for the extradition of Bofors accused Ottavio Quattrocchi looming large, the CBI is sending a three-member team to Argentina to initiate the legal process against the fugitive Italion businessman by February 28.

CBI sources said the team would leave for Argentina shortly as the 30-day deadline for initiating the necessary process for the extradition of Quattrocchi, who was detained in Argentina on February six, would expire on March seven.

The sources said the delay in initiating the extradition process was due to a 300-page dossier on Quattrocchi which the agency had received from the Argentinian government and which was being translated in the last few days.

The investigation agency was presently finalising the process of routing the papers through the Ministry for External Affairs which would then seek Quattrocchi's extradition from the Argentinian government.

The CBI team is also likely to seek the services of a 'local Law firm' in Buenos Aires to expedite the extradition process as was successfully done in the case of Abu Salem's extradition from Portugal, the sources said.

Earlier, Argentinian authorities had informed that the Italian national, an accused in CBI Case RC.1(A)/90-ACU.IV/SIG (Bofors Case) and subject of an Interpol Red Corner Notice 'A-44/2/1997', had been detained at the Iguazu International Airport in Argentina on February six and taken into preventive custody.

As there was no extradition treaty between India and Argentina, legal formalities as required under the Argentine Extradition Act are being carried out.

UNI