Govt not linked to defreezing of Q accounts

Govt maintained that it has nothing to do with CBI's statements to the authorities in UK that led to defreezing.

Accused by the Opposition of a "whitewash", Government on Wednesday maintained that it has nothing to do with CBI's statements to the authorities in Britain that led to defreezing of bank accounts of Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi.

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"The government is in no way related to the defreezing of bank accounts of Quattrocchi. The UPA Government has no connection with the decision. It is entirely CBI's decision," Minister of State for Personnel and Parliamentary Affairs Suresh Pachauri said in Lok Sabha.

Intervening during a debate on the motion of thanks to the President's address, he said, "we should have faith in the CBI and let me assure you that the government will not interfere in the functioning of the investigative agency."

Pachauri said the two bank accounts of Quattrocchi were freezed temporarily by the London High Court way back in July, 2003.

Reading out the statement that Gandhi had made in Parliament on August 6, 1987 stating his innocence and commitment to take stern action against anybody found guilty in the Bofors deal, Pachauri said, "we will implement whatever Late Rajiv Gandhi committed in letter and spirit".