Click to play videoNew Delhi: The problems of K Natwar Singh are far from over.
The Enforcement Directorate has issued show-cause notices to the former external affairs minister, asking why criminal proceedings should not be started against him in the light of the Pathak Commission report.
A crucial meeting is currently on between officials of Finance Ministry and Enforcement Directorate and this issue is believed to top the meeting's agenda.
Similar show-cause notices have also been issued to Natwar's son Jagat Singh, Andaleeb Sehgal, Aditya Khanna, Zameer Zaidi and Vikas Dhar for the alleged irregularities in the Iraqi oil-for-food scam. Another notice has been issued to Asad Khan, son of Congress leader Aslam Khan. All of them have been given time till September 14 to reply to the notices, a virtual chargesheet under FEMA with civil liability.
Terming as 'unfortunate' the showcause notices served on him and his son by the ED Natwar Singh said his lawyers would give befitting reply to the department.
"This is very unfortunate state of affairs that a department of Central Government is harassing and trying to defame me," Singh said.
The move came 10 months after the ED launched its probe in the alleged kickback received by Indian entities.
The show-cause notice mentions about the letters purportedly written by Singh to Iraqi officials in Saddam Hussein regime introducing businessman Andaleeb Sehgal, a friend of Jagat Singh, and recommending him for contracts under the UN-sponsored oil-for-food programme in Iraq, the sources said.
On February 17 and 18, the ED had questioned Natwar Singh after the agency had received a set of bank documents from Iraq and Jordan in the oil-for-food scam probed by Volcker.
Those served the show-cause notice have been allegedly abetting violations under Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). Under FEMA, abetment is also construed as violation of the Act.
After they file their reply, the matter would go for civil adjudication and financial penalties would be imposed on them, if found guilty. The ED began its probe in October last year.
(With PTI inputs)
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