Quattrocchi case an embarrassment to India: PM

New Delhi, May 3: Claiming that Bofors case had become an 'embarrassment' for the government, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh defended the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)'s decision to remove Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi's (Key suspect in Bofors case) name from its wanted list and withdrawal of an Interpol Red Cornor Notice against him.

"It is not a good reflection on the Indian legal system that we harass people while the world says we have no case," said the PM breaking his silence on the Quattrocchi case. "Quattrocchi case is an embarrassment for the government of India -- we tried to extradite him from Malaysia...from Argentina -- and the courts said we don't have a strong case. Before the matter was referred, Interpol asked India why do you want to keep him under a RCN -- the law minister referred to AG (attorney general) who gave advice that it should be lifted," the PM said.

Both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Left parties slammed PM for his statement. BJP claimed that if it came to power the party will re-investigate all the cases closed by or probed by CBI in the five years under UPA regime

"It is shameful for the Prime Minister to defend the indefensible," said Brinda Karat, the member of the CPM politburo.

OneIndia News