London banks not bound by Indian SC: Authorities

Britain's Crown Prosecution on Monday said banks in the country were not bound by the Indian Supreme Court's directive to the Indian government and Central Bureau of Investigation to ensure that Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, an accused in the Bofors case, is not able to withdraw money from his two accounts in a London bank.

"The Supreme Court of India's order is not binding on the banks here. The accounts remain defrozen. We have not taken any further action," spokeswoman of CPS, Annabelle McMillan, told PTI Monday afternoon.

"We are continuing to liaise with Indian authorities to provide assistance. We have no way of stopping the money going out of the banks," she said.

Amidst reports that the two bank accounts have been defrozen, the Supreme Court on Monday directed the Indian government and CBI to ensure that Quattrocchi did not withdraw money from the London banks.

Asked whether he would have already done so, McMillan said, "We have no way of knowing it. Only the banks can reveal that".

Complete coverage: Bofors, the smoking gun