New Delhi: A Delhi court on Thursday reserved its order for February 21 on the CBI's plea seeking withdrawal of case against Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi in the
over two-decade-old Bofors payoff scam.
"This court has heard the argument. There is no point in holding back the order for the information of the Central Information Commission (CIC). Put the matter for pronouncement of order on February 21," Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vinod
Yadav said.
In his observation, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vinod Yadav had pulled up the CBI for its inability to make Quattrocchi stand trial in India and attributed "malafide" to defreezing of the Italian businessman's bank accounts.
"I understand that several malafide (intentions) were there in defreezing of bank account (of Quattrocchi)", Yadav said.
While posting the case for further hearing, the judge had also observed that it may eventually go to the Supreme Court.
An income tax tribunal in its order had confirmed that Quattrocchi and Win Chaddha indeed got kickbacks in the Bofors deal.
CMM Yadav reserved his order on CBI's plea after advocate Ajay Agrawal, who has been opposing the closure of case against Quattrocchi, concluded his argument in this matter.
During the hearing, Agrawal moved an application before the court saying it should wait for the decision of the CIC in the matter, which is likely to be delivered within this month.
First Published: Thursday, February 10, 2011, 15:55