Tuesday, January 17 2006 13:31 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: A day after the Supreme Court directed the government and CBI to ensure that Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi did not withdraw money from his de-frozen accounts in a London bank, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee today (Jan 17, 2006) said the government did not have any 'jurisdiction' over other countries.

"We have no jurisdiction on other countries. We can at best make a request to them (UK authorities)," he told reporters after watching the NCC parade here.

Asked if the government will make any formal request to the UK authorities to ensure the Quattrocchi did not take out the money, he said, "Views of the legal experts will be taken" on the issue.

On CBI's role in the episode, the Defence Minister said it was an autonomous body and the government did not interfere with its working.

Amidst reports that the two bank accounts have been de-frozen, the Supreme Court had yesterday directed the government and CBI to ensure that Quattrocchi did not withdraw from London bank the amount alleged to have been linked with the Bofors kickback.