Click to play videoNew Delhi: The CBI on Thursday filed an affidavit in Supreme Court, saying it was not bound to inform it about Italian middleman Ottavio Quattrocchi's arrest in Argentina connection with the Bofors kickback case.
The CBI also said that it wasn’t even obliged to inform the court about the de-freezing of Quattrocchi’s accounts in Britain.
Government lawyers, who filed the affidavit on the behalf of CBI, admitted that the apex court came to know about the arrest when a public interest litigation was filed in the case.
The CBI’s affidavit also says that there was no extradition treaty between India and Argentina and therefore there was no compulsion on the agency.
If there's evidence against Quatrocchhi, the two countries have an understanding that he will be extradited, the affidavit said.
However, just why is the CBI keeping the cards close to its chest is what’s bothering the people in corridors of power.
Political reaction
The BJP took the opportunity to slam the Government and charged the Government with direct interference in CBI probe.
“I am surprised at the audacity of CBI. There is nothing more to be said. Everyone is aware of the functioning of the CBI. Why was this fact concealed? Every attempt is being made to sabotage the case,” said BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad.
The Opposition will decide how to take the case forward, said Prasad. “Law will take its court. But logical inference is that law is not being allowed to take its course,” he said.
Prasad also alleged that CBI'’s affidavit did not justify Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s stand on the issue.
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