Quattrocchi can't leave Argentina: CBI

New Delhi: Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, who was detained on February 6 in Argentina on the basis of an Interpol red-corner notice, has been released on bail.

Quattrocchi, who is wanted in India as the prime accused in the Bofors kickback case, has however been barred from leaving the country. The Argetinian authorities have already impounded Quattrocchi's passport.

“He must be in Argentina for the entire duration of investigation. He is not allowed to leave Argentina,” sources said.

There was, however, no concrete information about Quattrocchi’s whereabouts since his release.

Interpol sources confirmed that Quattrocchi has been released. They, however, maintain that the authorities in Argentina have been asked to keep him in the country during the investigations.

Carolina Cayozzo, the CNN Correspondent in Argentina, also told CNN-IBN that "Quattrocchi cannot leave the country until the legal procedure gets over."

Quattrocchi was held in Argentina for corruption charges.

CBI sources, while confirming the information, said this was a routine legal procedure and insisted that Quattrocchi can still be extradited.

Quattrocchi had escaped India in 1993 to United Kingdom while CBI was still preparing to charge him in the case. The Central agency finally got the necessary papers from Switzerland and filed a case against him in 1999.

The CBI sources said the agency will dispatch a team of two officers to Argentina on February 28 to get the accused extradited in connection with the Bofors scam.

While there is a 30-day time-limit for filing extradition request in the case, the CBI team — if at all it reaches Argentine — will be there only four days before the end of the deadline.

“The paperwork is expected to be completed on Monday and Tuesday after which the two-member team will leave for Argentina,” the CBI sources said.

The accused was arrested last month in Argentina and the Indian Government is trying to extradite him to India for further investigation in the Bofors scam.

Both the Indian Government and the CBI are tight-lipped about the course of investigation followed during the last 20 days. The government is scheduled to make a statement in Parliament on Tuesday.

In India, Quattrocchi faces charges are Section 420 (cheating) and 120B (conspiracy), which is an extraditable offense.

Sources say that one of the most shocking findings has been that while Quattrocchi was detained in Argentina, Quattrocchi Jr was seen partying some of the Delhi’s five-star hotels.

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