Bofors kickbacks: Quattrocchi chronology

Jan 22,1990: FIR in the Bofors case registered by CBI.

1997: Swiss banks release some 500 documents after years of legal wrangling. CBI files a case against Ottavio Quattrocchi,arms dealer Win Chadha,also naming Rajiv Gandhi,defence secretary S K Bhatnagar and number of others.

Oct 22,1999: CBI files first chargesheet in the case naming Chadha,Quattorocchi,Bhatnagar,former Bofors Chief Martin Ardbo and Bofors Company.

Oct 9,2000: CBI files supplementary chargesheet naming Hinduja brothers — Srichand,Gopichand and Prakashchand as accused.

2003: Two British Bank accounts of alleged middleman Ottavio Quattrocchi is frozen by a high court order on request of the government.

Feb 4,2004: Delhi High Court gives clean chit to Rajiv Gandhi. Quashes charges under Prevention of Corruption Act.

May 31,2005: Delhi High court quashes charges against British businessmen,Hinduja brothers — Shrichand,Gopichand and Prakash.

Dec,2005: B Datta,the then Additional Solicitor General requests the British Government that two British bank accounts of Quattrocchi be de-frozen on the grounds of insufficient evidence to link these accounts to the Bofors payoff.

Jan 16,2006: Supreme Court directs the Indian government to ensure that Quattrocchi does not withdraw money from the two bank accounts in London.

Jan 16,2006: CBI claims in an affidavit filed before the Supreme court that they were still pursuing extradition orders for Quattrocchi.

Jan 23,2006: CBI admits that around Rs 21 crore,about USD 4.6 million,in the two accounts have already been withdrawn.

Feb 6,2007: Quattrocchi detained in Argentina but the news of his detention released by CBI only on February 9.

Feb 7,2007: Interpol informs CBI about Quattrocchi’s detention.

Feb 13,2007: CBI,responding to the Supreme Court on a matter relating to money withdrawn by Quattrocchi,does not mention the fact of his detention. CBI admits later that it had the information at that time.

Feb 23,2007: CBI releases a statement about Quattrocchi’s arrest in Argentina.

Feb 26,2007: Quattrocchi released on bail.

Mar 2,2007: CBI sends a two-member team – Director Prosecution S K Sharma and Superintendent of Police Keshav Mishra — to assist in fighting the extradition case.

Mar 7,2007: The CBI submits 250-page plea for extradition of Quattrocchi to the Argentinian Foreign Office.

Mar 23,2007: The hearing of the plea for Quattrocchi’s extradition to India began in the Argentinian court.

Jun 4,2007: The two-member team goes again to give final touches ahead of the extradition trial of Quattrocchi.

Jun 7,2007: Extradition trial begins in El Dorado

Jun 8,2007: The court in El Dorado rejects India’s extradition request of Quattrocchi.

October,2008: Attorney General Milon Banerjee opines that CBI can withdraw Red Corner Notice against Quattrocchi.

Nov 25,2008: Red Corner Notice against Quattrocchi withdrawn.

Apr 30,2009: CBI seeks time from trial court to decide future course of action against Quattrocchi.

Sep 8,2009: CBI seeks two weeks time from trial court for exploring options against Quattrocchi after withdrawal of Red Corner Notice.

Sep 29,2009: Centre tells Supreme Court about its decision to withdraw case against Quattrocchi.