No Swiss help to crack Q case: CBI

New Delhi: The CBI on Thursday put the blame on the Swiss authorities for its failure to take the probe into the Bofors case to a logical end, saying the Swiss authorities declined assistance to India on grounds of time bar.

And with this, the investigations to track the alleged kickbacks received by Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi in the howitzer deal appeared to have reached a dead end, the Central investigating agency told the Supreme Court.

Filing an affidavit before the apex court, the CBI said: "It is not possible under the Swiss law to continue probe into a matter of money-laundering when the prosecution of the underlying crime has not resulted in a conviction so far and its continuation is now barred by the rule of lapse of time."

The Central agency had file it affidavit in response to a PIL, which said it was not doing enough to get Quattrocchi extradited to India. Rejecting the allegation, the CBI said the decision by the competent Cantonal Magistrate confirms the legal situation and makes it clear that no additional cooperation is available in this matter.

The agency maintained that it had no intention of concealing any material from the court and that all necessary steps had been taken by it to seek Quattrocchi's extradition within the time-frame and on February 7 itself before advocate Ajay Agrawal filed an application in this regard on February 12.

Denying the allegation by the advocate, the CBI said there has been no withholding of information and accused the petitioner of indulging in activities deprecated by the court.

The agency charged him with being inconsistent on the question of an extradition treaty with Argentina and said the Central Government has been legally advised that their does not subsist any such treaty between the two countries.

"This is also the stand taken by the Argentine Government which has advised the Indian Embassy that no such treaty subsists.

"In any event, it is respectfully submitted that adequate steps have already been taken by the Government of India to extradite Quattrocchi from Argentina and the matter is under the consideration of Argentine authorities in accordance with the Argentine law," the affidavit said.