Warrant issued against Quattrocchi

NEW DELHI, Nov 4: Taking cognisance of the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI chargesheet in the Bofors case, the special CBI court on...

NEW DELHI, Nov 4: Taking cognisance of the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI chargesheet in the Bofors case, the special CBI court on Thursday issued fresh non-bailable warrants against Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi and summons to four others.

Special Judge Ajit Bharihoke also summoned Dubai-based NRI businessman Win Chaddha, former defence secretary S K Bhatnagar and former Bofors company chief Martin Ardbo for their alleged role in the Rs 64-crore Bofors pay-off case.

The court also issued summons to Swedish company A B Bofors, now renamed as Celsius, represented through its Chief Executive Officer. The investigating agency has been directed to execute the warrant against Quattrocchi on or before December 13, the next date of hearing.

No observation was made on the inclusion of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in the chargesheet.

The court passed the order after perusing the 213 documents, submitted by the CBI, in original. The submission followed the court8217;s order to deposit the original documents including the statement of the witnesses. Finding that there was enough evidence to proceed against the accused persons, the judge issued the summons today.

In his observation, the Judge said: quot;S K Bhatnagar, at the relevant time, was a public servant and served as the defence secretary to the Government of India. The sanction of his prosecution has been placed on record. I take cognisance of it and issue the summons.quot;

In connection with the warrant against Quattrocchi, the court recalled the Supreme Court8217;s order, rejecting the former8217;s plea for quashing the arrest warrants after he failed to honour the undertaking to appear before the trial court. According to the undertaking given by Quattrocchi, he was supposed to cooperate with the investigating agency when assured that he would not be arrested.

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quot;Considering the circumstances, the non-bailable warrant against Quattrocchi be issued for the date already fixed,quot; the court said.

On October 22, the CBI had filed the chargesheet against the accused persons. The investigating agency informed the court that investigations were on to ascertain the role of Quattrocchi8217;s wife, Maria, Win Chaddha8217;s son, Harsh Chadha, and the three Hinduja brothers in the 155 mm Howitzer gun deal.

Further the CBI has alleged that Quattrocchi8217;s A E Services received 7.3 million while Chaddha8217;s Swenska got 27 million as kickbacks from A B Bofors for helping the latter in securing the gun deal in March 1986.

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