Chronology of events in the Bofors payoff case

Following is the chronology of events in the Bofors payoff case.

1987:Alleged payoffs in the Bofors deal surfaces.

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

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

Feb 5, 2004: The Delhi High Court quashes the charges of bribery against Rajiv Gandhi and others.

May 31, 2005:Delhi High court dismisses the Bofors case allegations against the British business brothers, Shrichand, Gopichand and Prakash Hinduja.

Dec, 2005: B Datta, the 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, 2005: Supreme Court directs the Indian government to ensure that Quattrocchi does not withdraw money from the two bank accounts in London.

Jan 23, 2005: CBI admits that roughly Rs 21 crore, about USD 4.6 million, in the two accounts have already been withdrawn.

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

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

Feb 8, 2007:Interpol informs CBI about Quattrocchi’s detention

Feb 13, 2007:The CBI responding to the Supreme Court on a matter relating to money withdrawn by Quattrocchi, does not mention the fact of his detention.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:The 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.

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