CBI seeks Italian, Interpol help to trace Quattrocchi

The CBI has sent another request to the Italian Government to verify reports that the main accused in the Bofors pay-off scandal Ottavio Qua...

The CBI has sent another request to the Italian Government to verify reports that the main accused in the Bofors pay-off scandal Ottavio Quattrocchi was in that country even as the probing agency asked Interpol to issue a fresh ‘‘look out’’ notice for him.

‘‘We have asked the Italian Government to verify reports that Quattrocchi was in Italy after he left Malaysia on December 14 to meet his daughter,’’ CBI Director P.C. Sharma said.

‘‘We are also in constant touch with our mission in Rome to know the whereabouts of Quattrocchi. The mission staff has been taking the issue with relevant quarters with the authorities in Rome,’’ Sharma said.

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CBI had come for a surprise on December 13 when Malaysian High Court had turned down the plea for review of the sessions court verdict throwing out the extradition case, saying: ‘‘The offences of (cheating and corruption) alleged to have been committed by Quattrocchi in India are open to doubt.’’

India, which went for review at the court of appeal, through the Malaysian Attorney General had contended that the order was passed without the case being given a proper hearing for extradition of Quattrocchi. The CBI has also contacted Interpol headquarters in France for help in tracking down the Italian.