CBI says prosecution of "Q" unjustified, seeks closure of case

New Delhi, Oct 3 (PTI) CBI (Central Bureau of
Investigation) Saturday moved a local court for the legal
burial of the two-decade-old Bofors pay-off case by seeking
withdrawal of the case against Italian businessman Ottavio
Quattrocchi on the ground that "continuance of his prosecution
will be unjustified".

The agency said it has arrived at this conclusion after
its failure on two occasions to extradite the 69-year-old
businessman from Malaysia and Argentina to face trial.

The CBI, which also relied on various other factors
including the Delhi High Court judgements quashing charges
against all other co-accused to justify its decision, said
that the application to withdraw the case has been filed in
good faith and in public interest.

"In any event, the attempts to secure the presence of
Quattrocchi from Malaysia and Argentina have failed. I find
that the Malaysian court has also touched upon the merits of
the case," Additional Solicitor General P P Malhotra and
advocate Naveen K Matta submitted before Chief Metropolitan
Magistrate Kaveri Baweja.

The court, however, refused to pass any order on CBI's
plea after advocate Ajay Agrawal objected to the probe
agency's move and submitted that it is trying to close the
case despite having sufficient evidence.

The court asked the CBI to file its response on Agrawal's
application and posted the matter for further hearing on
October 9. (MORE) PTI