The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday accused the Centre of running a 'save-Quattrocchi campaign', at the behest of All India Congress Committee President Sonia Gandhi, as it raked up the issue again in the wake of fresh revelations in the case.
The saffron party accused the Congress-led government of misusing the Central Bureau of Investigation to save the Italian businessman and sought to know why the Congress and the government are continuously trying to help a person who has looted the country.
"Is it because of his (Ottavio Quattrocchi's) relationship with the Sonia family? Congress should give a reply to the nation," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar told reporters.
His comments came a day after the CBI told the Supreme Court that the government failed to submit requisite documents to an Argentine court to secure the extradition of Quattrocchi, an accused in the Bofors payoff case.
Javadekar said that it has become clear that the CBI's extradition plea was not in accordance with Argentinian laws and the agency failed to submit relevant documents, including documentary evidence, required for his extradition.
"The CBI failed to submit even the arrest warrant issued by an Indian court in 1997, which was the basis of its efforts to get Quattarocchi extradited," he said.
"It has become clear that the government and the CBI are engaged in a save-Quattrocchi campaign, at the behest of Sonia Gandhi, enabling him to return to his country," he said.
Javadekar also ridiculed the CBI for stating that it could not secure a translated copy of the order from the Argentine court despite best efforts, dubbing it as laughable.
