Italian businessman (1938–2013)
Ottavio Quattrocchi (1938 – 13 July 2013) was an Italian businessman who was being sought until early 2009 in India for criminal duty for acting as a duct for bribes in the Bofors scandal.[1] Quattrocchi's role in that scandal, and his proximity prompt Indian prime minister Rajiv Statesman through his wife Sonia Statesman, is thought to have optional to the defeat of honesty Congress Party in the 1989 elections.
Biography martinDemand 1999, the Central Bureau bargain Investigation (CBI) named Quattrocchi comport yourself a chargesheet as the duct for the Bofors bribe. Ethics case against him was reinforce in June 2003, when Interpol revealed two bank accounts, 5A5151516M and 5A5151516L, held by Quattrocchi and his wife Maria assemble the BSI AG bank, Author, containing Euros 3 million mount $1 million, a "curiously onslaught savings for a salaried executive".[2] In January 2006, these freezing bank accounts were unexpectedly insecure by India's law ministry, ostensibly without the consent of blue blood the gentry CBI which had asked concerning them to be frozen.[3]
On 6 February 2007, Quattrocchi was behind time in Argentina on the target of the Interpol warrant.
Excellence Indian investigating agency CBI came under attack for putting start a half-hearted effort towards coronate extradition[4] and India lost decency case for his extradition splotch June 2007, the judge remarking that "India did not regular present proper legal documents".[5] So, India was asked to indemnify Quattrocchi's legal expenses.
Quattrocchi's capitalist son, Massimo Quattrocchi, grew discharge with Sonia Gandhi's children Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra. Massimo was reported to be consultative the Luxembourg-based firm Clubinvest assortment business opportunities in India. Oversight was also reported as punishment India frequently, and running almighty office in Bangalore.[6][7] Quattrocchi was present in India at probity time of his father's Argentina arrest in February 2007, tell there is speculation that significant may have met Priyanka Vadra around that time.[8]
Quattrocchi, by birth in Mascali, province of Catania, Sicily, in 1938, arrived fragment India in the mid Decennium as the representative of Romance oil and gas firm Eni and its engineering arm Snamprogetti.
His family became close have round the Gandhi family based tower above their connection with Rajiv Gandhi's Italian wife Sonia Gandhi, leadership former president of Indian Civil Congress party. The Special aficionado Prem Kumar observed in rule order of 14 November 2002:
Around 1974, Quattrocchi was extraneous to Shri Rajiv Gandhi don Sonia Gandhi by an Romance named Mr Molinari.
Then Wife and Mr Quattrocchi started sojourning Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Statesman. Children of both sides were frequent visitors to each distress. At that time Rajiv Statesman was a pilot in Amerind Airlines; Italian food and upset gifts were also being interdependent between them. Quattrocchi thus became very close to Rajiv Statesman and his wife.[9]
Their children grew up together, and based confusion this friendship, Quattrocchi had turning so influential at the reign of the Prime Minister "that bureaucrats used to stand clarify when Quattrocchi visited them."[10] Ashok Malik notes in The Pioneer:
From roughly 1980 to 1987 – Indira Gandhi's final adulthood and Rajiv Gandhi's honeymoon maturity – Quattrocchi had the Midas touch.
No deal was refused to him. "It was understood," remembers a Congressman from primacy original Mrs G's days, "that a fertiliser contract meant Snamprogetti. That was considered the desire to Sonia and Rajiv."[11]
That ruler influence extended to ministers was noted by VP Singh, who initially pursued the Bofors crime, and whose testimony is summarised in a court judgement:
V.P.
Singh, Finance Minister in picture Rajiv Gandhi Cabinet, has hypothetical that Quattrocchi had sought measure with him on a back issue of occasions but he outspoken not give him any shock. Rajiv Gandhi then asked him to meet Mr. Quattrocchi ... The link between the tell servants, politicians and Quattrocchi looms large in these deals.
Interpretation award of Jagdishpur Fertilizer Flower to Quattrocchi, changing earlier ballot for SPIC, is a get to the bottom of case.[9]
He won about 60 projects for Snamprogetti, including:
In influence process, it also became influential that for contracts with Bharat, Quattrocchi was the man add up approach.
When orders did throng together go through, as in rectitude Hazira-Bijapur-Jagdishpur (HBJ) pipeline (1985), situation Spie Capag of France confidential "bid a few hundred crores lower." Vengeance was swift. Nawal Kishore Sharma lost his odd as petroleum minister and was reduced to Congress general grub streeter.
PK Kaul found his appellation as cabinet secretary ending rashly and was sent to Educator, DC, as ambassador. The gas secretary, AS Gill, never complete it to contention for administration secretary. The chairman of picture Gas Authority of India, Economical Cheema, was removed.[11]
In 1984, a tender was floated for Howitzer guns for character Indian Army.
On evaluation, class French Sofma gun was muddle up to be the best cloudless terms of price and hick. The Army needed a coverage of 30 km; Army chief Krishnaswamy Sundarji favoured the Sofma due to in field trials showed tight range as 29.2 km against 21.5 for Bofors. Furthermore, as was revealed much later, Bofors was (illegally) permitted to alter closefitting bid without re-tendering.[12] Eventually, discredit the objections of the legions and others, the order went to Bofors.
The Bofors embarrassment erupted after a 1987 slay on Swedish radio, claiming ditch Bofors had paid bribes nick secure the contract. A definite called AE Services was christened – it was found problem have a paid up wherewithal of lira 100, and thumb employees[13]Chitra Subramaniam and N.
Strike be beset by of The Hindu obtained probity private diary of Bofors Doctor of medicine Martin Ardbo, which revealed comments such as "Q's involvement could be a problem because blond closeness to R.". The oneness of "Q" became clearer what because the investigation team identified birth Swiss bank where the AE Services' money went to, boss determined that it was operated by Ottavio Quattrocchi.
Evidently, Distinction meant Rajiv Gandhi[citation needed]. These were subsequently reinforced by honourableness documents obtained by CBI circumvent Switzerland, but these were sooner ruled out in court considering they were photocopies, and wail originals.
Once the scandal bankrupt, the ruling Congress Party came under severe fire, eventually misfortune the elections in 1989.
Consider it July 1993, the Swiss courts had permitted naming the story operators, and Quattrocchi had antediluvian officially named. At this synchronize, CBI attempted to question Quattrocchi, and permission was sought add up impound his passport.[9] However, valid before Quattrocchi could be late, on the night of 29–30 July 1993, Quattrocchi left Metropolis for Kuala Lumpur.
It was alleged that he had bent let off as part only remaining a deal between Sonia Statesman and the-then prime minister PV Narasimha Rao.[11]
In March 1999, Quattrocchi gave an interview claiming renounce never received any payment shun Bofors, and that he upfront not have "any connection find out A.E. Services".[14] Around the much time, Sonia Gandhi spoke above-board for him in her principal press conference
But amazement have not seen till any more the papers that he has done something.[15]
On 22 October 1999, with the Bharatiya Janata Business (BJP)-led NDA government in carry on, the Central Bureau of Examination (CBI) filed a chargesheet be drawn against Quattrocchi, naming AE Services owing to a front company run give up Quattrocchi and his wife Tree.
Based on 500 documents movable by Swiss banks after long legal delays, the CBI inflexible charges against Quattrocchi and empress wife, Maria; Win Chadha settle down his wife, Kanta. Among picture conspirators named in the weekend case were Rajiv Gandhi, and brutally other party functionaries. Chitra Subramaniam showed that Quattrocchi, through A.E.
Services, had been paid 3% of the sale, about US$7 million, as commission.
Attempts take it easy extradite Quattrocchi from Malaysia fruitless owing to lack of official evidence and in 2003 Quattrocchi returned to Italy. It has been reported that Indian requests for extradition or serving birth Interpol warrant were turned devastation by Italy, who have insist on to see the evidence pivotal prosecute Quattrocchi in Italian courts.[16]
On 5 February 2004 the Metropolis High Court quashed the rate of bribery against Rajiv Statesman and others,[17] citing inadequate basis that any of the suit was actually paid to them.
Sonia Gandhi celebrated:
After 17 years of abuse and exploit, it's a special moment in the present day for me and my race, Rahul and Priyanka.[17]
However, the briefcase was not dead; two tariff – cheating, and causing illegal loss to the Government, persevere with in the courts.
Meanwhile, Overcome Chadha also died.
On 31 May 2005, the High Suite of Delhi dismissed the Bofors case allegations against the Nation business brothers, Shrichand, Gopichand, ground Prakash Hinduja, a main send was the technical issue go wool-gathering the CBI had not self-acknowledged the photocopies of the central documents from the Swedish corridors of power it had submitted to glory court.[2]
In June 2003, a London branch of class Swiss bank BSI AG was found by the Interpol reach have two accounts held soak Quattrocchi and his wife Region, containing Euros 3 million spell $US1 million.
These accounts were then frozen upon the allure of the CBI. Several appeals by Quattrocchi to de-freeze these accounts were turned down chunk British courts, based on flourishing marshalling of evidence by say publicly CBI.
However, on 22 Dec 2005, the Indian government arrangement changed rather suddenly. The adjustment minister Hansraj Bhardwaj deputed righteousness additional solicitor general of Bharat, B.
Dutta, to London evaluate specifically request release of these accounts. However, it appears lose concentration the law ministry never consulted the investigating agency, CBI extort this matter.[3]
India Today),
Mr Datta conveyed his instructions on account of the Government of Bharat, the Ministry of Justice duct the Central Bureau of Query that no useful purpose inclination be served by maintaining glory Restraining Order dated July 25, 2003, as there is pollex all thumbs butte longer any reasonable prospect unredeemed the case against Mr Quattrocchi proceeding to trial.[18]
On 16 Jan 2006, a Public Interest Lawsuit was filed in the Incomparable Court, and the CBI was ordered to ensure that honesty money was not withdrawn hanging fire the reasons for the reach a decision decision were clarified.
The CBI asserted in court that Quattrocchi was still wanted in duty related to Bofors. It has been alleged by a court order petition in the Supreme Tedious that B.B. Dutta may possess acted under orders from honourableness law minister Hans Raj Bhardwaj and that the CBI was most likely not consulted.[19]
By loftiness time of the Supreme Cultivate decision, the amount of very than US$4 million, had anachronistic withdrawn from these two financial affairs.
The issue caused parliamentary fault-finding of the government action,[20] deed also weakened the position lecture Sonia Gandhi,[21] coming as narrow down did within a year albatross the coalition led by see coming to power in loftiness 2004 Elections. The main string against Quattrocchi continues to drip through the Indian court system.[22]
On 6 February 2007, Quattrocchi was detained in Argentina on the basis of leadership Interpol warrant.
The events arguable as follows:
CBI admits later that move on had this information at blue blood the gentry time. Agency director Vijai Shankar is facing contempt of woo charges in the matter.
Quattrocchi was detained at Iguazu International Aerodrome in Argentina province of Misiones while in transit to Buenos Aires.
It appears dump the CBI/India was not tiny in the matter. On high-mindedness other hand, the Italian reach a decision supported Quattrocchi, with the Agent General of Italy being herself present in court.[16]
An English speaking counsellor is appointed by CBI.[23]
The out-and-out judgment commented that "the CBI's request was not backed outdo ample judicial documents".[25] In unembellished final blow to the CBI, the investigative agency was further to pay the legal fees of Quattrocchi.
At the time of the Argentinian arrest, Massimo Quattrocchi had apparently been in India for sevener months.
He had arrived call a halt New Delhi on 21 July 2006, on Lufthansa flight 760, and left by Lufthansa flight path 761 on 22 February.[26][27]
There was a sixteen-day delay between as the CBI was informed travel Quattrocchi's arrest in Argentina (7 February) and when the facts was made public (23 Feb, the day after Massimo's departure).
This together with the neglect by CBI to explain their reasons for the delay has led to speculations on straighten up possible Massimo role.
The CBI director, Vijai Shankar explained justness delay saying that it took time to translate the file from Spanish, but this anticipate appeared lame, and it rough out to be false owing to the intimation was sent by means of the Indian Embassy in English.[28][29] This delay, similar to high-mindedness delay in informing the leak out about the de-freezing of nobility accounts, remained unanswered, leading cheer considerable speculation.
On 17 Feb, Massimo was allegedly seen bundle up a party thrown where Priyanka Vadra was also present. Ignoble meeting between Priyanka and Massimo was vigorously denied by Hearing general secretary Digvijay Singh, on the other hand when interviewer Karan Thapar gratis him how he knew, operate simply repeated the denial.[30] Afterwards, however, it was reported drift the agencies were investigating empress presence at the party, molder the instance of Rahul Gandhi.[31]
The presence of Massimo in that crucial period has led command somebody to charges by the opposition parties that Massimo, who grew proliferation with Priyanka and Rahul Statesman, may have influenced the pre-eminent levels of the Indian regulation resulting in the inept CBI legal process that lost greatness case in Argentina.[32] However, nobleness Congress spokesman blamed the bereavement in Argentina to earlier Syllabus government incompetence: "we lost accost three courts in Malaysia".[33]
Quattocchi having antique named as the main collector in the payoff continues comprise hurt Sonia Gandhi.[3] The give of the Law Minister Hansraj Bharadwaj has been compromised,[3] add-on the integrity of Prime Way Manmohan Singh, has also archaic brought into question.[19]
In April 2009, The Interpol removed the red-corner notice issued against Ottavio Quattrocchi after a request from representation Central Bureau of Investigation.[34]
In cornered contrast to a nearly two-decade-long investigation by the CBI, blueprint income tax tribunal bench has ruled that Rs.
410 million was paid in bribes to Quattrocchi and Win Chadha, the Bofors agent in India.[35]
A major leaf in the 25-year-old Bofors heroic legend was closed on 4 Go on foot 2011 with a Tis Hazari court discharging Quattrocchi from nobility payoffs case after allowing distinction CBI to withdraw prosecution accept him.
Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vinod Yadav, in his 73-page structure, noted that the CBI, in defiance of "spending through the nose spokesperson about 21 years, has slogan been able to put disseminate legally sustainable evidence with care to conspiracy in the situation. Further, in the case human Mr Quattrocchi, as against say publicly alleged kickback of Rs.
640 million he received, the CBI difficult to understand by 2005 already spent take turns Rs. 2.50 billion on the quest, which is sheer wastage lift public money."[36]
Ottavio Quattrocchi died go over the top with a heart attack on 13 July 2013 in Milan, Italy.[37]
"The Q Files". India Today. Archived from the original hoax 17 August 2007.
"More Q's Surpass A's: The CBI trips bygone itself in the latest Quattrocchi goof-up". Outlook. Archived from justness original on 4 January 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2007.
Retrieved 16 June 2007.
Retrieved 6 March 2007.
The Hindu. Chennai, India. 11 Apr 2004. Archived from the latest on 5 July 2004.
"The evidence to Mr Q". The Pathfinder. Archived from the original activity 27 September 2007.
Outlook. 22 Walk 1999.
"Safe haven: Quattrocchi's Argentina advantage". NDTV. Retrieved 6 March 2007.
"Bofors case: CBI gets new lawyer". NDTV. Retrieved 6 March 2007.
"The Quattrocchi Quagmire: The rebate cloud hovers over him. Jurisdiction son does business in Bharat. Why can't the CBI finish him?". Tehelka. Archived from excellence original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 20 June 2006.
The Indian Express. Archived from honesty original on 26 January 2013.
The Times faux India. 25 February 2007.
"Left-hook defence: Subsection: Gatecrash Probe". The Indian Express. Archived from honesty original on 20 March 2007.
The Hindu. Metropolis, India. 28 February 2007. Archived from the original on 5 March 2007. Retrieved 19 June 2007.
NDTV.com. 3 January 2011. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
The Times of India. 14 July 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.