CBI has no case against me: Quattrocchi

New Delhi, Aug 15 (UNI) Asserting that the CBI had no case against him, fugitive Italian businessman and Bofors accused Ottavio Quattrocchi today claimed that the investigating agency was ''persecuting'' him to get to his ''friends in India''.

In an interview to a television channel, he said, ''I am proud of what I have done in India, the friendship I have established in the country.'' According to him, the CBI's motive was to reach somebody, either a politician or an industrialist. ''Their aim is to reach one of them and not Ottavio Quattrocchi.'' Lashing out at the CBI, Quattrocchi said, ''The CBI have been pursuing the case for over 21 years, and have never come out with even an iota of evidence against me'' Without mentioning any name, the Italian businessman said that ''someone'' was pushing the agency to target certain people and that those elements were doing it for political gains.

''I was in India till 1993, no one interrogated me or asked me any questions. I was never invited even for a discussion. I have been asked to be interrogated numerous times, either in Malaysia or in Italy, where I was born. I believe the Bofors case is only about politics, nothing more. They are only interested in making a big show in New Delhi. In fact, this matter always comes up before every election since 80s,'' he said.

Quattrocchi claimed that the courts always gave him justice. ''I was also persecuted in Malaysia in 1997, when the CBI issued an arrest warrant - dated February 6, 1997. Malaysia rejected it outright. But they pursued it for four years, till 2000, for some reason. Malaysia agreed to give the paper to the judiciary and I won at every stage.'' However, the CBI spokesperson declined to make any comment on the matter.

''I have not yet seen the interview,'' he said.

UNI