Quattrocchi held in Argentina

NEW DELHI: In a development that will revive the Bofors issue and compound the government’s embarrassment, Interpol has detained Ottavio Quattrocchi in Argentina. As the arrest was made on a red corner notice issued on a request by the Indian agencies, the CBI has asked the external affairs ministry to seek his extradition.

Interestingly, the news of the arrest was released to the media a full fortnight after his detention. Mr Quattrocchi was apparently detained at the Iguazu International Airport on February 6.

“Legal formalities as required under the Argentine Extradition Act are being fulfiled on the basis of reciprocity, as there is no extradition treaty between India and Argentina,” a release issued by the CBI said. In other words, it will have to take the same protracted court route that it took in Portugal to extradite Abu Salem — a process which took more than a year.

The government will also have to be seen to be actively acting on the request for extradition as there will be considerable political pressure on it from the Opposition.

The arrest of the Italian middleman, who was close to the Congress president’s household, has kicked the bottom off the government’s stand. During the de-freezing of his accounts the government counsel had said there was no case against him that warranted freezing of accounts.

Citing the Interpol alert issued against him, the Opposition had then charged the government with taking measures to bail him out.