NDTV claims evidence linking payoffs in oil-for-food scam

NEW DELHI: A TV channel on Thursday claimed to have got evidence linking payoffs in the Iraqi oil-for-food scam to Andleeb Sehgal and a London-based NRI Aditya Khanna, said to be connected to former External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh and his son Jagat Singh.

NDTV said it had evidence that Khanna, a relative of Natwar Singh, had given in writing to the Enforcement Directorate that Sehgal of Hamdaan Exports had told him that he was allocated two million of barrels of Iraqi oil in 2001 and a possible "roll over" of one million barrels.

When contacted, Sehgal refused to make any comments saying the matter was "sub judice" before the Pathak Inquiry Authority. "I have submitted my reply to the Pathak Inquiry Authority," he said.

Khanna had introduced Sehgal to a foreign trader, who had brought in Masefield AG of Switzerland, the channel said.

Masefield, which was named in the Volcker report of having lifted the oil earmarked for Indian entities, decided to do business with INDRUS, a company floated by Khanna and Sehgal, NDTV said.