New Delhi, February 23
Controversial Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, wanted in the Bofors case for the past 14 years, has been detained in Argentina and the CBI will ask for extradition to India.

The news of this breakthrough came in a statement by the CBI tonight which said Quattrocchi, against whom an Interpol red corner notice had been issued, had been detained and taken in preventive custody on February 6 at Iguazu International Airport while in transit to Buenos Aires.

The statement said the CBI after confirming the veracity of Quattrocchi’s identity and detention had requested the ministry of external affairs for sending the extradition request through diplomatic channels to the Argentinean government.

“Legal formalities as required under the Argentine Extradition Act are being fulfilled on the basis of reciprocity as there is no treaty extradition treaty between India and Argentina,” it said.

The agency said after observing mandatory legal and diplomatic formalities, extradition request to extradite Quattrocchi should be presented through diplomatic channel to the designated Argentine court.