New Delhi: A Delhi court today reserved
its order on a plea of CBI seeking withdrawal of criminal
proceedings against Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi in
more than two-decade-old Bofors pay off case.
The judgement on Quattrocchi, the sole surviving
accused in the politically-sensitive case, would be announced
on January four by the court which had heard the arguments of
CBI and a lawyer who has been opposing the move to withdraw
the case.
Additional Solicitor General P P Malhotra, during the
arguments, contended continued prosecution of Quattrocchi was
"unjustified" in the light of various factors including the
failed attempts of CBI to extradite him.
"I find that the continuance of prosecution against
Quattrocchi will be unjustified. It is considered expedient in
the interest of justice that the proceedings against him
should not be continued and be withdrawn," CBI pleaded in its
9-page application.
Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vinod Yadav has fixed
the case for pronouncing the order on the plea.
The court, however, accorded an opportunity to
advocate Ajay Agarwal, who is opposing CBI's move, either to
file his written arguments or advance oral submissions before
the date fixed for the order.
-PTI
First Published: Tuesday, December 14, 2010, 22:20