An Argentinian court will hear next week Central Bureau of Investigation's plea seeking extradition of Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, an accused in the Bofors case.

The date of hearing on May 23 was fixed by the court in El Dorado of Misiones province after consulting the lawyers of CBI as well as Quattrocchi who was arrested in Argentina on February six and later released on bail.

The court had earlier fixed May 17 as the next date of hearing but CBI's lawyer Miguel Almeyra requested for a change in view of his pre-occupation at courts in Buenos Aires.

The CBI's plea is with Judge Harichi Doi from the First Court of El Dorado province of Argentina.

Quattrocchi was detained in Argentina on February 6 but a court released him on bail. However, his passport was impounded and he was barred from leaving the country till a decision on the plea for extradition was taken by the court.

Quattrocchi is being represented by Alejandro Freeland and Luis Taimini.

The hearing for extradition of Quattrocchi to India had begun in the Argentinian court on March 23 during which the Italian businessman had opposed the move saying it was a politically-motivated case.

The CBI had submitted a 250-page extradition request to the Argentinian government after his arrest in Misiones province on February six while he was on his way to Brazil.

Freeland had last week submitted his defence papers to the court, which included previous rulings relevant to the case in India and Malaysian courts and juridical opinion and affidavits in support of his client's 'innocence.'