Quattrocchi's extradition process report before court

New Delhi, Mar 14 (UNI) The CBI today presented before a city court the 'status report' on the extradition of Bofors accused Ottavio Quattrocchi.

Quattrocchi, presently on bail in Argentina after being detained on February 6, is being sought by the CBI here in connection with the alleged Bofors payoff scam.

While presenting the 'report', the central investigation agency explained to the court the reasons for the delay in sending requisite documents pertaining to getting the Italian businessman extradited to India.

It stated that the delay was caused due to the time consuming translation exercise.

The court later put the next hearing in the case to April 13.

Presently a three-member 'team', including two from the CBI, is in Argentina to seek Quattrocchi's extradition.

Quattrocchi's detention at Iguazu International Airport in Argentinian province of Misiones on way to Buenos Aires on February 6 was against an Interpol 'red corner notice' issued against him.

Accused of receiving kickbacks in the 1986 artillery gun deal, made with Swedish arms firm Bofors (later changed to Celsius), worth 1.2 billion US dollars, Quattrocchi was later released from 'preventive custody' on February 23.

The payoffs were reported to be around seven million USD (Rs 64 crore in 1986).

UNI