Sunday, February 12 2006 12:10 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The CBI is approaching the court this week for issuance of Letters Rogatory to be sent to Switzerland for getting to the trail of the Rs 21 crore stashed in two bank accounts in London by Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, a Bofors case accused.

The LR request got the go-ahead from the Law Ministry and the Union Home Ministry, CBI sources said here today (Feb 12,2006).

In an unusual procedural change, Union Home Minsitry had directed the LR to the Legal and Treaty Division of Ministry of External Affairs without giving any clearance. However, after strong protest, the LR request was sent back to the Home Ministry which finally gave the approval for approaching the court.

After getting the court's permission, the LR would be sent to the External Affairs Ministry for handing it over to Switzerland.

The CBI approached Switzerland formally to provide the details as the funds were transferred from Lugano in Switzerland to London's BSIAG Bank.

The money, which had remained frozen for more than two years following a CBI plea, was released recently after the Government told the British Crown Prosecution Service that that it did not have any evidence to link the money in the London bank accounts to the kickback paid in the case relating to Bofors guns purchase.

The agency had secured a Letter Rogatory in 2004 for Bahamas which was executed in 2005. During the probe in Bahamas, CBI sleuths found the money had not been transferred from there.

CBI sources said that during further investigation, the agency found the money had come from the Swiss city of Lugano and details would be sought from them.