The BJP-led opposition has dropped enough indications in the last three days that it is going to raise the issue in a big way when the budget session of Parliament resumes today.

The BJP and its allies have sought to know from the government why the news about detention of the businessman Ottavio Quattrochi in Argentina on February 6 had been kept under wraps and announced only on February 23.

A resolution passed by a meeting of BJP office bearers here on Saturday also accused the government of withholding information of Quattrochi's detention to prevent negative fall-out on the party's prospects in assembly polls in three states.

Quattrochi was detained in Argentina on February 6 and India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) made the announcement of his detention on last Friday. There was an arrest notice issued by Interpol on a request from CBI.

The opposition is likely to ask Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to reply in Parliament why the CBI held back such important information about Quattrochi's detention.

BJP General Secretary Arun Jaitley charged the Congress-led government with holding back the information to save itself from "embarrassment" during the elections in the three states--Punjab, Uttarakhand and Manipur.

"The secrecy was also meant to delay the process of CBI complying with legal formalities to enable Quattrochi's extradition", he alleged.

Under international law, the CBI with the Indian External Affairs Ministry has to complete the procedure for seeking the Italian businessman's extradition by March 5.

India does not have an extradition treaty with Argentina.

Even the Left parties, which support the Congress-led government from outside, have joined the demand for quick extradition of Quattrochi, adding to the pressure building up on the ruling coalition to seek Quattrochi's extradition and trial in India.