CBI snubbed, Quattrocchi released on Feb 23

New Delhi, Feb 26 (UNI) In a major snub to the CBI's efforts to get Bofors accused Ottavio Quattrocchi extradited to India, the Italian businessman was released by a Buenos Aires court on a bail application filed against his February 6 detention.

Even as reports of his release on bail reached here this evening, CBI Director Vijay Shankar told the media that the Italian businessman had been released by the Argentinian court on February 23 -- the day the news of Quattrocchi's detention was made public by the central investigative agency here.

In a late evening release, the CBI said it received the message of Quattrocchi's release ''today at 1943 hrs'' from Interpol Buenos Aires.

''Quattrocchi has been released on bail by the Federal Court of Eldorado City in the Province of Misiones.'' The Argentinian court, however, asked him not to leave the country without its permission, sources said, adding that his passport has been confiscated.

The sources said Quattrocchi, who was detained under an Interpol 'red corner notice' at Iguazu International Airport in the Argentinian province of Misiones on way to Buenos Aires and taken into preventive custody, was released as the CBI could not specify charges against him.

The development would make the CBI's move to extradite the fugitive Italian businessman to India difficult, they added.

As he has been prohibited from leaving Argentina, the extradition process was continuing ''awaiting an extradition request through the diplomatic channel'', the CBI said, quoting the Interpol message received here today.

''The CBI team will leave for Argentina with extradition documents so as to reach there in the forenoon of March 2, 2007, to pursue the extradition matter in the Argentinian court as per law,'' added the CBI.

Meanwhile, officials here conceded that the release has put a spanner in the central agency's efforts to extradite him.

''It has actually put paid to efforts towards bringing Quattrocchi back to India for facing a trial in courts here under 'conspiracy and cheating' charges in the Rs 64-crore Bofors scam,'' senior officials said.

However, Quattrocchi's passport has been confiscated and he would not be able to leave Argentina, they said.

''But that is of little consequence as till now the CBI was unable to press charges againt the Italian fugitive or present its case forcefully before the Argentinian court,'' they added.

On the other hand, the Ministry of External Affairs here issued a statement that the Italian fugitive's release was ''conditional'' even as CBI Director Vijay Shankar was summoned to the North Block ''for discussions''.

The sources confirmed he met Home Minister Shivraj Patil.

UNI