Quattrocchi's bail not to affect extradition: Govt

New Delhi, Feb 27 (UNI) Maintaining that the release of Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, an accused in the Bofors payoff case, on bail in Argentina will not affect the extradition proceedings, the government today denied any delay and assured Parliament that a CBI team will reach Buenos Aires well before the 30-day deadline.

Making a statement in both Houses of Parliament, the proceedings of which have been stalled by the Opposition since yesterday alleging dilly-dallying by the government, Minister of State for Personnel Suresh Pachouri said the CBI has been ''diligently'' working for securing Quattrocchi's extradition and has prepared the documents ''within the quickest possible time frame.'' The CBI got the message of Quattrocchi's detention on February 7 and sent a query the same day to Interpol, Buenos Aires, seeking confirmation of the veracity of the information.

Interpol confirmed Quattrocchi's detention on February 8 and asked the CBI (which acts as Interpol in India) to send the extradition request along with Spanish translation within 30 days from the date of his detention (February 6).

The CBI has since prepared the extradition request, running into about 300 pages, and sent it to the government on February 24 for completion of diplomatic and legal formalities.

The government has also completed the translation of the documents in Spanish and ''is processing the request of extradition with utmost urgency and a CBI team is scheduled to reach Buenos Aires well before the expiry of the stipulated 30 days time,'' the Minister said.

The ''UPA government is fully committed to the autonomy of CBI and will render all possible assistance for the performance of its functions,'' the Minister said.

In the meanwhile, ''we have been informed on 26.2.2007 at 7.43 pm that Ottavio Quattrocchi has been released on bail from preventive detention by the Federal Court in Argentina, with the condition that he will not leave Argentina. This will have no bearing on the extradition proceedings being initiated by our government,'' he said.

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