01-13-2006, 10:19 PM
Bofors: Law ministry weathers the storm (TIMES INTERNET NETWORK)
[ Thursday, January 12, 2006 08:15:57 pm TIMES INTERNET NETWORK ]
NEW DELHI: The governmentâs troubles caused by its move to send additional solicitor-general B Datta to London to help defreeze accounts of key Bofors accused Ottavio Quattrocchi mounted, with the Left and Samajwadi Party joining BJP in questioning the "lean chit" given to the Italian businessman.
The governmentâs discomfiture also increased when law minister H R Bharadwajâs public position that there was no evidence against Quattrocchi was contradicted within hours by the CBI. The investigating agency said the fugitive Italian was chargesheeted, faced an Interpol Red-Corner notice and that his case â last heard by a designated court on December 12, 2005 â was next listed for March 31.
There were other signs of turbulence as well with a PIL being filed in Supreme Court, questioning the motive behind a senior law official meeting UKâs Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to facilitate Quattrocchiâs accounts being defrozen. On March 31, CBI will also submit in the designated court a status report on steps taken to extradite the accused.
In government circles, the mood was watchful as the controversy was tracked. The PMO kept mum, choosing to let the law ministry weather the storm. But even as BJPâs campaign was sought to be countered by voicing the sentiment that the saffron party had to answer why it had not nabbed Quattrocchi when NDA was in power, thereâs no doubt about a certain wariness over how the issue would develop.
Additional solicitor-general B Duttaâs communication to the CPS that there was no case for keeping Quattrocchiâs London bank accounts frozen was flayed by CPM.
[ Thursday, January 12, 2006 08:15:57 pm TIMES INTERNET NETWORK ]
NEW DELHI: The governmentâs troubles caused by its move to send additional solicitor-general B Datta to London to help defreeze accounts of key Bofors accused Ottavio Quattrocchi mounted, with the Left and Samajwadi Party joining BJP in questioning the "lean chit" given to the Italian businessman.
The governmentâs discomfiture also increased when law minister H R Bharadwajâs public position that there was no evidence against Quattrocchi was contradicted within hours by the CBI. The investigating agency said the fugitive Italian was chargesheeted, faced an Interpol Red-Corner notice and that his case â last heard by a designated court on December 12, 2005 â was next listed for March 31.
There were other signs of turbulence as well with a PIL being filed in Supreme Court, questioning the motive behind a senior law official meeting UKâs Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to facilitate Quattrocchiâs accounts being defrozen. On March 31, CBI will also submit in the designated court a status report on steps taken to extradite the accused.
In government circles, the mood was watchful as the controversy was tracked. The PMO kept mum, choosing to let the law ministry weather the storm. But even as BJPâs campaign was sought to be countered by voicing the sentiment that the saffron party had to answer why it had not nabbed Quattrocchi when NDA was in power, thereâs no doubt about a certain wariness over how the issue would develop.
Additional solicitor-general B Duttaâs communication to the CPS that there was no case for keeping Quattrocchiâs London bank accounts frozen was flayed by CPM.