CBI withheld fact of Quattrocchi's release on bail: Agarwal

New Delhi, Feb 26 (UNI) Ajay Agarwal, an advocate on whose application directions were issued to the CBI by the Supreme Court pertaining to steps taken to extradite Bofors accused Ottavio Quattrocchi from Argentina, today said he would again tomorrow mention the issue before the apex court as the agency had withheld the fact of his release on bail on February 23.

Earlier in the day, on Mr Agarwal's application, the apex court had issued directions to the agency to give within a week the details of the steps taken by it for Quattrocchi's tradition.

Reacting to the news of Quattrocchi's release on bail on health grounds by an Argentine court, Mr Agarwal told UNI, ''the CBI was taking the India's highest court for a ride as the Italian fugitive was released on bail on February 23 and this fact was again withheld by the agency from the apex court today.'' He also said he would pray to the court to advance the hearing of the case to March two as Quattrochhi's extradition may be difficult since the deadline for filing application in Argentina for his extradition expired on March 7.

The Italian businessman's passport has, however, been impounded and he had been directed not to leave Argentina without prior permission of the Argentina court.

He was detained on February 6 and according to reports remained in detention for 20 days and was released today.

UNI