Pathak panel examines Natwar

The one-man Pathak Inquiry Authority, probing the Indian angle in the UN oil-for-food scam, today examined former external affairs minister K Natwar Singh.

Accompanied by his son Jagat, the senior Congress leader had to face a volley of questions from the Pathak probe authority for nearly 90 minutes after which he refused to share any information with the waiting mediapersons.

"I am abiding by the confidentiality code of this probe in its letter and spirit. Deliberations and discussions were held in detail and the nature of the hearing is confidential," Singh told the waiting reporters.

Singh's examination comes close on the heels of the quizzing of Andleep Sehgal, director of Hamdaan Exports, which has been named as one of the beneficiaries in the UN oil-for-food scam, who had reportedly claimed before the authority that Singh had given him two introduction letters on the AICC letterhead addressed to the oil ministry in Iraq.

Sehgal said he had met Natwar Singh in Baghdad in January 2001 at a party hosted by the Indian ambassador there, where he introduced himself as a food supplier, the sources said.

At the meeting, Sehgal claimed to have conveyed to Singh his desire to be associated with the UN-registered oil company, for which he needed a credible letter of introduction or recommendation from possibly the Government of India.

When asked to comment on the allegation, Singh again invoked the confidentiality clause and declined to answer the question.

Meanwhile, the sources claimed that handwriting experts have confirmed that the writing on the letters handed to Sehgal did match that of Natwar. The senior Congress leader chose not to answer questions on this aspect also.

Asked whether he was confident the authority would be able to complete the probe within the next three months, he shot back angrily, "Why don't you ask (finance minister) Chidambaram about it. He is on record in the Rajya Sabha".

In his affidavit submitted to the authority, Sehgal had traced the events leading to getting the introduction letters, the sources said.

This conversation between Singh and Sehgal took place after the Iraqi state oil marketing organisation had told Sehgal that only a company recognised by the UN as an oil dealer would be registered with the Iraqi oil ministry.