Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] on Monday said the action of defreezing London [Images] bank accounts of Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi was taken by the Central Bureau of Investigation in consultation with law officers.

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Addressing a press conference in Guwahati, Dr Singh said, "Action relating to both freezing and unfreezing of these accounts have been taken at the level of the CBI in consultation with law officials as per established procedures."

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"Neither the freezing nor the unfreezing (of the Quattrocchi's account) was done under government's orders," the prime minister added.

These matters were exclusively under functional jurisdiction of CBI, Dr Singh said, adding that the United Progressive Alliance government never interfered with the CBI's functioning.

"All steps in this matter are in accordance with the established standard procedure. The autonomy of the CBI will be preserved under this government at all costs," he asserted.