Fresh evidence that law officers kept CBI in dark on de-freezing Q’s London accounts

This even as the CBI kept sending repeated reminders to the CPS that the accounts should remain frozen and was pushing diplomatic channels to uncover the money trail from Lugano, Switzerland, to London to connect the Rs 21 crores with the alleged Bofors kickbacks.

When the de-freezing appeared imminent, the Department of Personnel and Training (which has the administrative control of the CBI) sent Additional Solicitor General B Dutta alone to London, turning down the agency’s proposal of a senior sleuth accompanying him.

Just as in the Argentine extradition case, when the CBI delayed a public announcement on his detention for 17 days until he was granted bail, on the de-freezing issue, too, even the top bosses of the CBI were kept unaware of what transpired between Dutta and UK officials until the money was withdrawn.

This is how Dutta concluded his debriefing report for the CBI, “Given that charges against Ottavio Quattrocchi are liable to be withdrawn/ quashed in law, there can be no road map for his prosecution — the CPS has been apprised accordingly concerning the legal points of this case so that appropriate action be taken by them under their UK law.”

The ASG also informed the CBI that, “since there is no prima facie case to continue his prosecution for any of the offence, there is no justification for any further investigation under the Criminal Procedure Code. The question of further investigation, whether through issue of fresh Letters Rogatory or otherwise does not arise in view of this.”

What is not known is that the e-mail and Dutta’s report — Dutta says he e-mailed it on December 23 — was not shown to senior CBI officials. This resulted in an internal inquiry being ordered in the agency.

... contd.