01-17-2006, 07:14 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>U-turn: CBI says it cleared defreeze (TIMES NEWS NETWORK)</b>
[ Tuesday, January 17, 2006 02:17:09 am TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
NEW DELHI: In a spectacular pirouette, CBI on Monday claimed ownership of law ministry's controversial communication to UK's Crown Prosecution Service to allow defreezing of Bofors fugitive Ottavio Quattrocchi's bank accounts, even as government and Congress brass seemed in a "brazen it out" mood on the issue.
The agency, which was earlier learnt to be deeply resentful of the communication signalling India's acquiescence to defreeze the Italian businessman's accounts, fully owned up to the stance conveyed by the law ministry.
By evening, PM Manmohan Singh had, breaking his silence over the matter, endorsed CBI's version. "It was CBI's decision, government has nothing to do with it," he maintained in Guwahati, according to reports reaching here.
The about-turn was announced at a press conference hurriedly called just after Supreme Court took exception to defreezing of Quattrocchi's London accounts holding millions, and asked for responsibility to be fixed in what was seen as a sign of deepening of government's troubles over the matter.
With the PM maintaining that due procedures had been followed in decisions leading to defreezing of Quattrocchi accounts and the Supreme Court directing the CBI to seek a status quo, there is a possibility of the apex court differing with the Centre's take on the events.
Both government and Congress have already indicated what their response will be if the court seeks further explanations on the Quattrocchi decision
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[ Tuesday, January 17, 2006 02:17:09 am TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
NEW DELHI: In a spectacular pirouette, CBI on Monday claimed ownership of law ministry's controversial communication to UK's Crown Prosecution Service to allow defreezing of Bofors fugitive Ottavio Quattrocchi's bank accounts, even as government and Congress brass seemed in a "brazen it out" mood on the issue.
The agency, which was earlier learnt to be deeply resentful of the communication signalling India's acquiescence to defreeze the Italian businessman's accounts, fully owned up to the stance conveyed by the law ministry.
By evening, PM Manmohan Singh had, breaking his silence over the matter, endorsed CBI's version. "It was CBI's decision, government has nothing to do with it," he maintained in Guwahati, according to reports reaching here.
The about-turn was announced at a press conference hurriedly called just after Supreme Court took exception to defreezing of Quattrocchi's London accounts holding millions, and asked for responsibility to be fixed in what was seen as a sign of deepening of government's troubles over the matter.
With the PM maintaining that due procedures had been followed in decisions leading to defreezing of Quattrocchi accounts and the Supreme Court directing the CBI to seek a status quo, there is a possibility of the apex court differing with the Centre's take on the events.
Both government and Congress have already indicated what their response will be if the court seeks further explanations on the Quattrocchi decision
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