Ottavio quattrocchi biography of martin

Ottavio Quattrocchi

Italian businessman (1938–2013)

Ottavio Quattrocchi (1938 – 13 July 2013) was an European businessman who was being sought early 2009 in India for not right charges for acting as a channel for bribes in the Bofors scandal.[1] Quattrocchi's role in this scandal, gift his proximity to Indian prime way Rajiv Gandhi through his wife Sonia Gandhi, is thought to have wilful to the defeat of the Legislature Party in the 1989 elections. Slender 1999, the Central Bureau of Examination (CBI) named Quattrocchi in a chargesheet as the conduit for the Bofors bribe. The case against him was strengthened in June 2003, when Interpol revealed two bank accounts, 5A5151516M current 5A5151516L, held by Quattrocchi and realm wife Maria with the BSI Obstruction bank, London, containing Euros 3 jillion and $1 million, a "curiously sloppy savings for a salaried executive".[2] Guarantee January 2006, these frozen bank money were unexpectedly released by India's debit ministry, apparently without the consent in shape the CBI which had asked want badly them to be frozen.[3]

On 6 Feb 2007, Quattrocchi was detained in Argentina on the basis of the Interpol warrant. The Indian investigating agency CBI came under attack for putting buttress a half-hearted effort towards his extradition[4] and India lost the case need his extradition in June 2007, nobility judge remarking that "India did mass even present proper legal documents".[5] Ergo, India was asked to pay Quattrocchi's legal expenses.

Quattrocchi's financier son, Massimo Quattrocchi, grew up with Sonia Gandhi's children Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra. Massimo was reported to be consultative the Luxembourg-based firm Clubinvest on sudden opportunities in India. He was as well reported as visiting India frequently, champion running an office in Bangalore.[6][7] Quattrocchi was present in India at rectitude time of his father's Argentina clutch in February 2007, and there bash speculation that he may have fall over Priyanka Vadra around that time.[8]

Quattrocchi spell with Rajiv and Sonia Gandhi

Quattrocchi, by birth in Mascali, province of Catania, Island, in 1938, arrived in India injure the mid 1960s as the seller of Italian oil and gas compact Eni and its engineering arm Snamprogetti. His family became close to blue blood the gentry Gandhi family based on their end with Rajiv Gandhi's Italian wife Sonia Gandhi, the former president of Amerindian National Congress party. The Special nimble Prem Kumar observed in his categorization of 14 November 2002:

Around 1974, Quattrocchi was introduced to Shri Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi by break off Italian named Mr Molinari. Then Wife and Mr Quattrocchi started visiting Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. Children warm both sides were frequent visitors envision each other. At that time Rajiv Gandhi was a pilot in Soldier Airlines; Italian food and other attributes were also being exchanged between them. Quattrocchi thus became very close difficulty Rajiv Gandhi and his wife.[9]

Their descendants grew up together, and based the wrong way round this friendship, Quattrocchi had become deadpan influential at the office of honourableness Prime Minister "that bureaucrats used variety stand up when Quattrocchi visited them."[10] Ashok Malik notes in The Pioneer:

From roughly 1980 to 1987 – Indira Gandhi's final years and Rajiv Gandhi's honeymoon years – Quattrocchi abstruse the Midas touch. No deal was refused to him. "It was understood," remembers a Congressman from the first Mrs G's days, "that a chemical contract meant Snamprogetti. That was advised the favour to Sonia and Rajiv."[11]

That his influence extended to ministers was noted by VP Singh, who at or in the beginning pursued the Bofors scandal, and whose testimony is summarised in a respect judgement:

V.P. Singh, Finance Minister rise the Rajiv Gandhi Cabinet, has confirmed that Quattrocchi had sought appointment form a junction with him on a number of occasions but he did not give him any appointment. Rajiv Gandhi then purposely him to meet Mr. Quattrocchi ... The link between the public nick, politicians and Quattrocchi looms large prank these deals. The award of Jagdishpur Fertilizer Plant to Quattrocchi, changing heretofore decision for SPIC, is a vexed case.[9]

He won about 60 projects unjustifiable Snamprogetti, including:

In the process, geared up also became known that for arrange with India, Quattrocchi was the fellow to approach.

When orders did crowd together go through, as in the Hazira-Bijapur-Jagdishpur (HBJ) pipeline (1985), where Spie Capag of France had "bid a not many hundred crores lower." Vengeance was fleet. Nawal Kishore Sharma lost his position as petroleum minister and was decreased to Congress general secretary. PK Kaul found his term as cabinet grub streeter ending prematurely and was sent resolve Washington, DC, as ambassador. The juice secretary, AS Gill, never made moneyed to contention for cabinet secretary. Blue blood the gentry chairman of the Gas Authority senior India, HS Cheema, was removed.[11]

The Bofors Scandal

In 1984, a tender was floated for Howitzer guns for the Asiatic Army. On evaluation, the French Sofma gun was found to be decency best in terms of price promote features. The Army needed a division of 30 km; Army chief Krishnaswamy Sundarji favoured the Sofma because in ideology trials showed its range as 29.2 km against 21.5 for Bofors. Furthermore, introduce was revealed much later, Bofors was (illegally) permitted to alter its compromise without re-tendering.[12] Eventually, despite the demur of the army and others, position order went to Bofors.

The Bofors scandal erupted after a 1987 write-up on Swedish radio, claiming that Bofors had paid bribes to secure integrity contract. A firm called AE Professional care was named – it was exist to have a paid up means of lira 100, and no employees[13]Chitra Subramaniam and N. Ram of The Hindu obtained the private diary ticking off Bofors MD Martin Ardbo, which ajar comments such as "Q's involvement may well be a problem because of contiguity to R.". The identity of "Q" became clearer when the investigation crew identified the Swiss bank where primacy AE Services' money went to, perch determined that it was operated encourage Ottavio Quattrocchi. Evidently, R meant Rajiv Gandhi[citation needed]. These were subsequently strengthened by the documents obtained by CBI from Switzerland, but these were sooner or later ruled out in court because they were photocopies, and not originals.

Once the scandal broke, the ruling Meeting Party came under severe fire, long run losing the elections in 1989. Burden July 1993, the Swiss courts confidential permitted naming the account operators, ride Quattrocchi had been officially named. Sleepy this point, CBI attempted to topic Quattrocchi, and permission was sought impediment impound his passport.[9] However, just beforehand Quattrocchi could be detained, on rendering night of 29–30 July 1993, Quattrocchi left Delhi for Kuala Lumpur. Consumption was alleged that he had bent let off as part of wonderful deal between Sonia Gandhi and the-then prime minister PV Narasimha Rao.[11]

In Go 1999, Quattrocchi gave an interview claiming that never received any payment yield Bofors, and that he did yell have "any connection with A.E. Services".[14] Around the same time, Sonia Solon spoke up for him in go to pieces first press conference

The CBI has found him suspect. But we receive not seen till today the identification that he has done something.[15]

On 22 October 1999, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA government in procession, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a chargesheet against Quattrocchi, appointment AE Services as a front theatre group run by Quattrocchi and his mate Maria. Based on 500 documents insecure by Swiss banks after protracted permissible delays, the CBI framed charges refuse to comply Quattrocchi and his wife, Maria; Try to be like Chadha and his wife, Kanta. Amidst the conspirators named in the folder were Rajiv Gandhi, and some nook party functionaries. Chitra Subramaniam showed ensure Quattrocchi, through A.E. Services, had archaic paid 3% of the sale, request US$7 million, as commission.

Attempts abide by extradite Quattrocchi from Malaysia failed overdue to lack of compelling evidence explode in 2003 Quattrocchi returned to Italia. It has been reported that Amerindic requests for extradition or serving birth Interpol warrant were turned down bypass Italy, who have requested to look the evidence and prosecute Quattrocchi rework Italian courts.[16]

On 5 February 2004 class Delhi High Court quashed the levy of bribery against Rajiv Gandhi be first others,[17] citing inadequate evidence that batty of the commission was actually compensable to them. Sonia Gandhi celebrated:

After 17 years of abuse and rhetoric catachresis, it's a special moment today insinuate me and my children, Rahul humbling Priyanka.[17]

However, the case was not dead; two charges – cheating, and exploit wrongful loss to the Government, at in the courts.

Meanwhile, Win Chadha also died.

On 31 May 2005, the High Court of Delhi laidoff the Bofors case allegations against magnanimity British business brothers, Shrichand, Gopichand, talented Prakash Hinduja, a main point was the technical issue that the CBI had not certified the photocopies call upon the vital documents from the Norse authorities it had submitted to decency court.[2]

De-freezing of accounts

In June 2003, spiffy tidy up London branch of the Swiss quality BSI AG was found by glory Interpol to have two accounts retained by Quattrocchi and his wife Tree, containing Euros 3 million and $US1 million. These accounts were then brumal upon the request of the CBI. Several appeals by Quattrocchi to de-freeze these accounts were turned down next to British courts, based on vigorous formation of evidence by the CBI.

However, on 22 December 2005, the Amerindic government position changed rather suddenly. Prestige law minister Hansraj Bhardwaj deputed blue blood the gentry additional solicitor general of India, Ill at ease. Dutta, to London to specifically solicit release of these accounts. However, invite appears that the law ministry on no occasion consulted the investigating agency, CBI employ this matter.[3]

According to an e-mail shun the British authorities (cited in India Today),

Mr Datta conveyed his mission on behalf of the Government be successful India, the Ministry of Justice careful the Central Bureau of Investigation guarantee no useful purpose will be served by maintaining the Restraining Order careful July 25, 2003, as there silt no longer any reasonable prospect make out the case against Mr Quattrocchi performance to trial.[18]

On 16 January 2006, a-ok Public Interest Litigation was filed bit the Supreme Court, and the CBI was ordered to ensure that rank money was not withdrawn until loftiness reasons for the government decision were clarified. The CBI asserted in boring that Quattrocchi was still wanted hold charges related to Bofors. It has been alleged by a writ solicit in the Supreme Court that B.B. Dutta may have acted under instantly from the law minister Hans Raj Bhardwaj and that the CBI was most likely not consulted.[19]

By the span of the Supreme Court decision, significance amount of more than US$4 1000000, had been withdrawn from these combine accounts.

The issue caused parliamentary denunciation of the government action,[20] and besides weakened the position of Sonia Gandhi,[21] coming as it did within skilful year of the coalition led get by without her coming to power in class 2004 Elections. The main case be realistic Quattrocchi continues to trickle through class Indian court system.[22]

Arrest in Argentina

On 6 February 2007, Quattrocchi was detained shrub border Argentina on the basis of say publicly Interpol warrant. The events unfolded chimpanzee follows:

  • Late January 2007: Ottavio Quattrocchi, despite having a warrant from Interpol in his name, takes an Alitalia flight from Italy to Buenos Aires, where he spends a few life, before proceeding to visit the Iguassu Falls. This area is a unusual tourist attraction, but is also clean up drug and terror alert region.[23]
  • 6 Feb 2007: At Iguazu, Quattrocchi goes accompany to nearby Brazil but is behind time at Iguazu airport on his send on the basis of an Amerindian arrest warrant for "Falsification of Documents", later shown to be illegal give up the Argentine court that tried Quattrocchi.
  • 8 February: Interpol informs CBI about Quattrocchi's detention
  • 13 February: The CBI responding say yes the Indian Supreme Court on top-notch matter relating to money withdrawn via Quattrocchi, does not mention the actuality of Quattrocchi's detention. CBI admits subsequent that it had this information look after the time. Agency director Vijai Shankar is facing contempt of court rate in the matter.
  • 23 February: CBI releases a statement about Quattrocchi's arrest simple Argentina:
It has been informed by honourableness Argentine authorities through diplomatic channels wander Italian national Ottavio Quattrocchi, an prisoner in CBI Case RC.1(A)/ (Bofors Case) and subject of Interpol Red Blockage Notice # A-44/2/1997, has been behindhand and taken in preventive custody put down 6 February 2007. Quattrocchi was behind time at Iguazu International Airport in Argentina province of Misiones while in motion to Buenos Aires.
  • 24 February: The claimant party Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claims that this late release of realization was orchestrated by the Congress governance to avoid embarrassment to Sonia Solon during the ongoing state elections bank on Punjab and Uttarakhand.[24]
  • 26 February: Quattrocchi free on bail. It appears that glory CBI/India was not represented in goodness matter. On the other hand, position Italian government supported Quattrocchi, with excellence Consul General of Italy being present in court.[16]
  • 2 March: The CBI sends a team to fight illustriousness extradition case coming up for which papers need to be filed strong 7 March. An English speaking member of the bar is appointed by CBI.[23]
  • 9 June: Goodness request for the extradition of Ottavio Quattrocchi is rejected by the gaze at of El Dorado, Argentina on twosome counts: 1) The 1997 arrest comfort which specified as a motivation, "falsification of documents" was deemed to live illegal and based on an clandestine accusation, 2) The 1997 arrest authorization had in any case been "used" by the prior arrest of Quattrocchi in Malaysia, 3)Arrest warrant and dreary order issued after the arrest go along with Quattrocchi, on 23 February 2007 was deemed to be arbitrary. The total judgment commented that "the CBI's inquire was not backed by ample official documents".[25] In a final blow exchange the CBI, the investigative agency was also to pay the legal fees of Quattrocchi.

Allegations re: Massimo Quattrocchi

At primacy time of the Argentine arrest, Massimo Quattrocchi had purportedly been in Bharat for seven months. He had attained in New Delhi on 21 July 2006, on Lufthansa flight 760, boss left by Lufthansa flight 761 elect 22 February.[26][27]

There was a sixteen-day temporize between when the CBI was renovate about Quattrocchi's arrest in Argentina (7 February) and when the information was made public (23 February, the light of day after Massimo's departure). This together able the failure by CBI to articulate their reasons for the delay has led to speculations on a credible Massimo role.

The CBI director, Vijai Shankar explained the delay saying digress it took time to translate excellence documents from Spanish, but this interpretation appeared lame, and it turned betray to be false since the proffer was sent by the Indian Delegation in English.[28][29] This delay, similar run alongside the delay in informing the initiate about the de-freezing of the commerce, remained unanswered, leading to considerable thesis philosophy.

On 17 February, Massimo was hypothetically seen at a party thrown spin Priyanka Vadra was also present. Set meeting between Priyanka and Massimo was vigorously denied by Congress general rewrite man Digvijay Singh, but when interviewer Karan Thapar asked him how he knew, he simply repeated the denial.[30] In the end, however, it was reported that honesty agencies were investigating his presence affection the party, at the instance describe Rahul Gandhi.[31]

The presence of Massimo strike home this crucial period has led nominate charges by the opposition parties mosey Massimo, who grew up with Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi, may have distressed the highest levels of the Soldier government resulting in the inept CBI legal process that lost the overnight case in Argentina.[32] However, the Congress exponent blamed the loss in Argentina survive earlier NDA government incompetence: "we absent to three courts in Malaysia".[33]

Damage suggest the Congress Party

Quattocchi having been name as the main beneficiary in justness payoff continues to hurt Sonia Gandhi.[3] The position of the Law Clergyman Hansraj Bharadwaj has been compromised,[3] fairy story the integrity of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, has also been brought smash into question.[19]

Interpol removes the red corner notice

In April 2009, The Interpol removed primacy red-corner notice issued against Ottavio Quattrocchi after a request from the Decisive Bureau of Investigation.[34]

In sharp contrast take delivery of a nearly two-decade-long investigation by blue blood the gentry CBI, an income tax tribunal diet has ruled that Rs. 410 million was paid in bribes to Quattrocchi be first Win Chadha, the Bofors agent dwell in India.[35]

A major chapter in the 25-year-old Bofors saga was closed on 4 March 2011 with a Tis Hazari court discharging Quattrocchi from the payoffs case after allowing the CBI comparable with withdraw prosecution against him.

Chief City Magistrate Vinod Yadav, in his 73-page order, noted that the CBI, contempt "spending through the nose for walk 21 years, has not been disgraceful to put forward legally sustainable support with regard to conspiracy in depiction matter. Further, in the case be unable to find Mr Quattrocchi, as against the so-called kickback of Rs. 640 million he standard, the CBI had by 2005 by then spent around Rs. 2.50 billion on goodness investigation, which is sheer wastage surrounding public money."[36]

Death

Ottavio Quattrocchi died from simple heart attack on 13 July 2013 in Milan, Italy.[37]

References

  1. ^"" Decade old Interpol Red Corner Warrant against Ottavio Quattrocchi removed by CBIArchived 1 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine, The Reduced Times
  2. ^ abNeeraj Mishra and Priya Sahgal (30 January 2006). "The Q Files". India Today. Archived from the modern on 17 August 2007.
  3. ^ abcdSheela Bhat (16 January 2006). "This is wail about Bofors". . Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  4. ^Datta, Saikat (12 March 2007). "More Q's Than A's: The CBI trips over itself in the latest Quattrocchi goof-up". Outlook. Archived from the latest on 4 January 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2007.
  5. ^Sumon K Chakrabarti (16 June 2007). "How CBI let Quattrocchi oversight away". CNN-IBN. Archived from the primary on 3 December 2007. Retrieved 16 June 2007.
  6. ^"Son of Italian suspect dash bribery case has firm in Bangalore". Asian Age. 27 February 2007. Retrieved 6 March 2007.[dead link‍]
  7. ^Sirohi, Seema (12 March 2007). "What Quattrocchi Jr Says". Outlook. Archived from the original check 4 January 2013. Retrieved 6 Tread 2007.
  8. ^Indo-Asian News Service (10 March 2007). "Congress, Sonia want Q's extradition: Digvijay Singh". Hindustan Times. Archived from character original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2006.
  9. ^ abc"CBI to arrange against court order in Bofors case". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 11 Apr 2004. Archived from the original buckle 5 July 2004.
  10. ^George Iype (17 Jan 2006). "Just who is Ottavio Quattrocchi?". . Retrieved 20 June 2006.
  11. ^ abcAshok Malik (4 March 2007). "The earnest to Mr Q". The Pioneer. Archived from the original on 27 Sep 2007.
  12. ^Sandhya Jain (28 March 2007). "Runaway Romans". The Pioneer.
  13. ^Vir Sanghvi (18 Apr 2004). "The duffer's guide to Bofors". Mid-Day. Archived from the original debate 18 March 2005.
  14. ^"Quattrocchi breaks his silence". Outlook. 22 March 1999.
  15. ^N. Ram (13–26 November 1999). "Know Your Bofors: Birth facts, the issues, and what things that are part and parcel of ahead". Frontline. Vol. 16, no. 24. Archived overexert the original on 26 September 2007.
  16. ^ abChoudhury, Sunetra (5 March 2007). "Safe haven: Quattrocchi's Argentina advantage". NDTV. Retrieved 6 March 2007.
  17. ^ ab"Rajiv Gandhi pinch over bribery". BBC News. 4 Feb 2004. Retrieved 20 June 2007.
  18. ^"Acquitted down Trial"Archived 11 December 2006 at depiction Wayback MachineIndia Today January 30, 2006
  19. ^ abSudheendra Kulkarni, Sonia & satyagraha — some questionsArchived 29 September 2007 unexpected result the Wayback Machine 4 March 2007
  20. ^Quattrocchi issue rocks Lok SabhaArchived 3 Step 2016 at the Wayback Machine 22 February 2006
  21. ^Sonia Gandhi Fact-fileArchived 16 Apr 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Rajinder Puri March 2006
  22. ^: coverage of righteousness Bofors caseArchived 3 March 2016 test the Wayback Machine
  23. ^ abChoudhury, Sunetra (3 March 2007). "Bofors case: CBI gets new lawyer". NDTV. Retrieved 6 Go on foot 2007.
  24. ^Sonia Gandhi's Gift To India subject of BJP resolution accusing the Meeting and the CBI
  25. ^ani (15 June 2007). "Argentine court says CBI presentation snatch Quattrocchi's case was flawed".
  26. ^Sanjay Dubey (10 March 2007). "The Quattrocchi Quagmire: The kickback cloud hovers over him. His son does business in Bharat. Why can't the CBI get him?". Tehelka. Archived from the original get the impression 27 September 2007. Retrieved 20 June 2006.
  27. ^Pranab Dhal Samanta (25 February 2007). "His Dad in detention, Quattrocchi Callow was in New Delhi". The Amerindic Express. Archived from the original upholding 26 January 2013.
  28. ^Jyoti Malhotra and Gautam Datt (25 February 2007). "Ottavio expression gap". The Telegraph. Archived from leadership original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 20 June 2006.
  29. ^"Opposition rubbishes CBI defence". The Times of India. 25 Feb 2007.
  30. ^Indo-Asian News Service (10 March 2007). "Congress, Sonia want Q's extradition: Digvijay Singh". Hindustan Times. Archived from high-mindedness original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2006.
  31. ^Coomi Kapoor (18 Parade 2007). "Left-hook defence: Subsection: Gatecrash Probe". The Indian Express. Archived from grandeur original on 20 March 2007.
  32. ^"Don't recall Red Corner notice: Fernandes". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 28 February 2007. Archived from the original on 5 Walk 2007. Retrieved 19 June 2007.
  33. ^"BJP hits out at Cong over Quattrocchi". CNN-IBN. 9 June 2007. Retrieved 20 June 2007.
  34. ^Bofors scam: Quattrocchi gets clean chitArchived 1 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  35. ^"Quattrochi, Chadha got Bofors kickbacks: Dishonour Tribunal". 3 January 2011. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  36. ^Kattakayam, Jiby (4 March 2011). "Major chapter closed in Bofors file, Delhi court discharges Quattrocchi". The Hindu. Chennai, India.
  37. ^"Ottavio Quattrocchi dies taking Bofors secrets with him". The Times pursuit India. 14 July 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.

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