Tuesday, December 27 2005 16:05 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Government has decided to provide security to Aniel Mathrani who recently alleged that former Union Minister Natwar Singh was involved in pay-offs in Iraq's oil-for-food programme, besides businessman Andaleeb Sehgal and Jamil Zaidi.

Each of the three would be provided a Personal Security Officer (PSO) and two constables by Delhi Police, sources told sources here today (Dec 27, 2005).

The decision to provide security to the trio was taken by the Union Home Ministry after a review of the perceived threat to them, the sources said.

Mathrani, who was part of the Natwar Singh-led four-member Congress delegation to Iraq in 2001, had reportedly alleged the involvement of Natwar Singh in the pay-offs.

Singh, whose name also figured as 'non-contractual beneficiary' in Iraq's oil-for-food programme in Paul Volcker report, was subsequently forced to resign from the Union Cabinet.

Sehgal and his company Hamadaan Exports is one of the accused named by the Volcker report. Sehgal is also considered a close associate of Natwar Singh's son Jagat Singh.

Jamil Zaidi, whose name also has been mentioned in the Volcker controversy, is a youth Congress leader from Rajasthan.