The CBI, which has decided to close the case against Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, has refused to reveal information about him relating to Bofors payoff case under the RTI Act on the ground that it will "impede" the prosecution of the accused.

The disclosure "would impede the process of apprehension and prosecution of accused," the investigating agency said in reply to a plea under the Right to Information Act. CBI said as the criminal case against Quattrocchi was still pending in the trial court and that various other petitions relating to the case were yet to be disposed of in the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court, the documents and the information can neither be provided nor allowed to be inspected.

The CBI's reply came on the RTI application filed by advocate Ajay Agrawal seeking all documents, notings and files pertaining to defreezing of Quattrocchi and his wife's accounts at London. The lawyer, who has opposed closure of case against Quattrocchi in the apex court and trial court, had also sought all information including advices, opinions and notings of law officers as well as CBI's officers who allegedly favoured him, leading to withdrawal of the Red Corner Notice against him in November 2008.