Red Corner Notice against Quattrocchi 'operational': Interpol

New Delhi, Sep 12 (UNI) The Red Corner Notice against fugitive Italian businessman and main accused in the Bofors scam Ottavio Quattrocchi was still ''operational'', Interpol secretary general Ronald K Noble said here today.

Quattrocchi walked free out of Argentina after a six-month legal battle following India's failure to appeal against a court's decision not to extradite him.

Addressing mediapersons, Mr Noble said, the warrant against the Italian businessman has not been withdrawn and continues to remain ''operational'' unless asked by the country on whose request it is issued.

''It does not subside unless requested. Even if one country fails to acknowledge the Red Corner Notice, the other does take into account.'' If nothing, at least the Notice helps in cornering the accused because of the Interpol 'alert', he said adding that it was not easy for anyone to roam freely against whom such a notice was issued.

However, once an accused is detained or arrested on the basis of the Notice, further action is taken purely on the basis of the law of two countries (one on whose request Notice is issued and the other which detains him).

Flanked by CBI director Vijay Shankar, who remained tight-lipped on the Quattrocchi issue, Mr Noble said the two recent detentions of the Italian businessman in Argentina and earlier in Malaysia was on the basis of the Red Corner Notice issued by the Interpol.

UNI