The Supreme Court on Friday declined to dispose of a contempt petition filed against Central Bureau of India Director Vijay Shanker and DIG Harbhajan Ram, on the allegation that the agency consistently misled it over the extradition proceedings initiated against Bofors pay-off accused Ottavio Quattrocchi.
"We are not disposing. We will see whether you have committed contempt of court," a bench of Justices C K Thakker and V S Sirpurkar observed while rejecting Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam's plea for disposing of the petition.
The ASG sought disposal of the contempt petition filed by advocate Ajay Agrawal after explaining at length the steps taken by the CBI in seeking the extradition of Quattrocchi from Argentina.
However, the bench agreed to adjourn by four weeks hearing on the matter after the ASG submitted that an Argentine court would hear on March 23 the Indian government's request for Quattrocchi's extradition.
The fresh petition for initiating contempt proceedings was filed by Agrawal, who submitted that the agency had filed false affidavits in the Court despite being in the know of Quattrocchi's arrest and subsequent release on bail by an Argentine court.
Agrawal, during the arguments, submitted that the CBI had committed contempt of the court by deliberately withholding the information of Quattrocchi's detention in Argentina on February six on the basis of a 'Red Corner Notice' issued by Interpol.