During his term as Minister of Interior (1990-1992) laws which permitted police authorities and magistrates to act against the Mafia organisation Camorra were promulgated.

In collaboration with judge Giovanni Falcone and US attorney Rudy Giuliani, he founded the DIA (Direzione Investigativa Antimafia), a specialised anti-mafia police force.

In the 1980s, together with many other members of the party, he was involved in a financial scandal which followed reconstruction after the 1980 Irpinia earthquake, but avoided judgement due to the statute of limitations.

Together with that of Antonio Gava, his name was mentioned in the kidnapping and liberation of DC member Ciro Cirillo by the Italian Red Brigades terrorist group in 1981.

[2][3] Scotti was accused of corruption in scandals regarding garbage management and construction projects for the 1990 Football World Cup, but was finally acquitted of all charges.