New Delhi: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on September 22 alleged before the Delhi High Court that Swedish arms manufacturer A B Bofors used Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi's closeness with former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to clinch the Rs 1,437 crore deal for the supply of 400 Howitzer guns to the Indian Army in March 1986.

Citing the statements of Gandhi's cabinet colleagues V P Singh, Arun Nehru and that of R Ganapathi, who was a member of the price negotiating committee for the procurement of 155 mm guns, Rohatagi submitted that Quattrocchi was "very close" to Gandhi and his family.

He showed certain documents to the court according to which an amount of $ 7.34 million was remitted to the account of Quattrocchi's A E Services in Switzerland in September 1986. Within five days, the money was further transferred to another account from where $ seven million was withdrawn by the accused.

Quattrocchi's trial has been separated from the main trial as the CBI failed to secure his presence. However, the ASG discussed his role in the alleged conspiracy in order to "expose" the role of public servants and some private persons who connived with Bofors.

PTI