Buenos Aires, June 15
An Argentine lower court in its detailed order for denying extradition of Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, an accused in the Bofors kickback case, to India has said that the CBI’s request was not backed by ample judicial documents.

The El Dorado court in its ‘detailed order’ stated that India had to lose its case against Quattrocchi because it did not get a “fresh arrest warrant” against him.

The court raised questions about the 1997 Interpol’s Red Corner Notice against Quattrocchi, which apparently was not valid in the absence of an arrest warrant.

The court of judge Hachiro Doi in El Dorado declared Quattrocchi's detention illegal.

On the basis of the Interpol’s notice Quattrocchi was arrested on February 6 at Iguazu International Airport in Argentina.

Earlier, the court had asked the CBI to pay Quattrocchi’s legal fees in Argentina. As per Argentinean law, such orders are issued if the judge believes that the defendant did not have a case to answer.

On December 13, 2002, India failed to obtain Quattrocchi's extradition from Malaysia after a court there dismissed India's plea due to insufficient evidence.

Quattrocchi is accused of cheating the Indian exchequer while brokering a deal for the purchase of Swedish-made Bofors field guns in 1987. — ANI