01-12-2006, 01:57 AM
http://www.dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?m...t&counter_img=1
<b> No case against Mr Q: Govt</b>
Pioneer News Service/ New Delhi
In the winter of controversies, Bofors has bounced back on the centre stage of Indian politics. One of the principal players in the scam, Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, known for his alleged links with 10 Janpath, has been given a clean chit by the UPA Government, ostensibly to facilitate the defreezing of his bank accounts in London.
Quattrocchi's accounts may be defreezed
A CNN-IBN investigation carried out in London and New Delhi has revealed that a senior Law Ministry official has informed the British crown prosecution service that there is no evidence directly linking Mr Quattrocchi to the Bofors payoffs. Further the Government has no plans to appeal against the Delhi High Court order which had earlier exonerated the Hinduja brothers in the Bofors case. The move could lead to the defreezing of Mr Quattrocchi's two accounts in London.
The BJP was quick to criticise the Government's decision. Party general secretary Arun Jaitley said, "It has become obvious that Quattrocchi was someone very special for the Congress party and its' leader." Mr Jaitley said that a clean chit to a man against whom a charge sheet was pending in a court of law, was baffling.
According to the investigation, Additional Solicitor General B Datta visited the British Crown Prosecution Service on December 22, and informed the CPS that the Indian Government had no evidence to directly link Mr Quattrocchi to the Bofors payoffs. He is also learnt to have informed the CPS that the Government had no objections if Mr Quattrocchi's accounts were defreezed. Mr Dutta, when contacted, refused to react to this, saying, "These are confidential matters, we cannot discuss this in public."
But in an email to CNN-IBN, the Crown Prosecution Service spokesperson confirmed the meeting: "The CPS is representing the Indian authorities in the UK courts in connection with an order to restrain Mr Quattrocchi's UK assets. The CPS met the Additional Solicitor General of India in December about this matter and has corresponded with the High Court about it this week."
Mr Quattrocchi has two bank accounts in London: 3 million euros in account number 5 A51516L in BSI AG Bank and one million US dollars in account number 5A51516M in the same bank.
Documents available with CNN-IBN also show that the CBI's director of prosecution has strongly suggested not to appeal against the Delhi High Court order given in May 2005 which exonerated the Hinduja brothers. The Director, Prosecution has said in his note: "It would really be a travesty of justice and fair play if the accused are forced to face trial without any definite time frame. I am not inclined to recommend an SLP against the order."
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JAI JAI SONIA MATAJI. SAVE INDIA .... <!--emo&:clapping--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clap.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='clap.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<b> No case against Mr Q: Govt</b>
Pioneer News Service/ New Delhi
In the winter of controversies, Bofors has bounced back on the centre stage of Indian politics. One of the principal players in the scam, Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, known for his alleged links with 10 Janpath, has been given a clean chit by the UPA Government, ostensibly to facilitate the defreezing of his bank accounts in London.
Quattrocchi's accounts may be defreezed
A CNN-IBN investigation carried out in London and New Delhi has revealed that a senior Law Ministry official has informed the British crown prosecution service that there is no evidence directly linking Mr Quattrocchi to the Bofors payoffs. Further the Government has no plans to appeal against the Delhi High Court order which had earlier exonerated the Hinduja brothers in the Bofors case. The move could lead to the defreezing of Mr Quattrocchi's two accounts in London.
The BJP was quick to criticise the Government's decision. Party general secretary Arun Jaitley said, "It has become obvious that Quattrocchi was someone very special for the Congress party and its' leader." Mr Jaitley said that a clean chit to a man against whom a charge sheet was pending in a court of law, was baffling.
According to the investigation, Additional Solicitor General B Datta visited the British Crown Prosecution Service on December 22, and informed the CPS that the Indian Government had no evidence to directly link Mr Quattrocchi to the Bofors payoffs. He is also learnt to have informed the CPS that the Government had no objections if Mr Quattrocchi's accounts were defreezed. Mr Dutta, when contacted, refused to react to this, saying, "These are confidential matters, we cannot discuss this in public."
But in an email to CNN-IBN, the Crown Prosecution Service spokesperson confirmed the meeting: "The CPS is representing the Indian authorities in the UK courts in connection with an order to restrain Mr Quattrocchi's UK assets. The CPS met the Additional Solicitor General of India in December about this matter and has corresponded with the High Court about it this week."
Mr Quattrocchi has two bank accounts in London: 3 million euros in account number 5 A51516L in BSI AG Bank and one million US dollars in account number 5A51516M in the same bank.
Documents available with CNN-IBN also show that the CBI's director of prosecution has strongly suggested not to appeal against the Delhi High Court order given in May 2005 which exonerated the Hinduja brothers. The Director, Prosecution has said in his note: "It would really be a travesty of justice and fair play if the accused are forced to face trial without any definite time frame. I am not inclined to recommend an SLP against the order."
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JAI JAI SONIA MATAJI. SAVE INDIA .... <!--emo&:clapping--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clap.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='clap.gif' /><!--endemo-->