Kuala Lumpur, June 26: A Malaysian High Court today gave Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, who is fighting extradition to India in the Bofors payoff case, approval to seek the return of his passport from a lower court. The Central Bureau of Investigation wants to question Quattrocchi over his role as a middle man in the 1980's Bofors kickback scam.

High court judge Abdul Aziz Mohamad varied the stay order from the extradition proceedings and allowed Quattrocchi to apply to the sessions court for the return of his passport.

"We are considering whether to challenge the order and will take a decision soon," said Cyrus V Das, counsel for the Indian government adding they have 30 days to challenge the order in the court of appeal.

The date for hearing the judicial review proceeding will be given on July 1. Quattrocchi has been staying in Malaysia since 1994. Bureau Report