The government on Monday disclosed that money was withdrawn from the two London [Images] bank accounts of Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi's on the day when the Supreme Court passed the order directing it to ensure maintenance of status quo on those accounts.

Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam conveyed this to a Bench headed by Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal.

The Bench on January 16 had issued notices to the Centre and the Central Bureau of Investigation directing them to take steps to ensure that the amounts should not be withdrawn.

The ASG placed before the bench replies of the government and the CBI detailing the status of the payoff case. The court then directed the ASG to file the reply before the Registry and asked advocate Arya Aggrawal to file his reply within two weeks.

The two accounts had about Rs 21 crore, which was frozen for some years on CBI's contention that money was linked to Bofors payoffs.

The CBI and the government had in December conveyed to the British Crown Prosecution Service that there was no link between the funds in the two accounts and the Bofors payoffs.

Subramaniam said that all effort was made by asking the Indian High Commission and Interpol that steps should be taken to comply with the apex court order.

"On January 17 and 18, the CBI requested the Indian High Commission and Interpol London seeking their assistance in ensuring that the orders of the Supreme Court are complied with," the affidavit said.

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