Monday, August 7 2006 17:56 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Government Monday (7 Aug, 2006) decides to hand over findings of Justice R.S. Pathak's probe in the Iraqi oil-for-food scam, indicting former foreign minister K. Natwar Singh, to three investigative agencies, as a determined opposition repeatedly halts proceedings in both houses of parliament where the Action Taken Report (ATR) was tabled.

The Pathak report and the government's ATR were placed in parliament amid din, with opposition parties led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) refusing to allow discussion till their demand of how the report's findings were leaked and an apology from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

While accepting the findings of a probe that indicted former foreign minister K. Natwar Singh in "influencing and facilitating" the contracts, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said the report will be forwarded to the Enforcement Directorate, Central Board of Direct Taxes and Central Board of Excise and Customs for follow up action.

"The government has decided to forward the report in its entirety to the following authorities to be treated as information and for such action as may appear to them warranted under law," the ATR said.

In his 105-page report submitted last week, Justice Pathak has given a clean chit to the Congress party, finding no evidence that the party was involved in any transactions linked to the ousted regime of Saddam Hussein.

On the issue of whether any Indian entity or individual received any money, any other consideration connected with the Iraqi oil-for-food programme, the government's ATR mentions Aditya Khanna, Andaleeb Sehgal, and Sehgal Consultants of Hamdaan Exports.

What the Pathak panel find is a letter by Natwar Singh written to then Iraqi oil minister Amer Mohammed Rasheed in January 2001, soon after the Congress delegation's trip, introducing a family friend, Andaleeb Sehgal of Hamdaan Exports.

"It is thus evident that a meeting took place with the Iraqi oil minister where Natwar Singh, his son Jagat and Andaleep were present. It is reasonable to infer that there was some talk about the allocation of oil," says Justice Pathak.

"It is apparent that the meeting of Singh with Iraqi oil minister carried great meaning. That can be judged from the fact that the State Oil Marketing Organisation (SOMO) opened its doors to Jagat and Andaleeb the very next day after the meeting between Singh and Rasheed," says the report.

According to the Pathak report, after examining scores of documents and interrogating over 17 people, both Andaleeb and businessman Aditya Khanna got a total sum of $146,000, which amounts to 5 cents per barrel.

"The entire amount was received in the bank account of Indrus trading company, located in Jersey, Channel Islands. This was to be distributed in the ratio of 4:1 between Andaleeb and Aditya Khanna," the report says.

In the final analysis, Pathak says, Andaleeb received $68,293 while Aditya Khanna, his business partner, got $32,558.

V.K. Malhotra of BJP was quick to rubbish the Pathak report.

"This is a 'managed" report. It has no authority. What happened to the letters written by Sonia Gandhi? Why have they not been produced? Who took advantage of the oil coupons?" he queries.

The inquiry committee that set up in Nov 11 last year to examine the veracity of a probe by an UN-appointed panel that alleged that some individuals, political parties and companies - including those from India - were beneficiaries of the Iraqi oil-for-food programme when Saddam Hussein was in power.

"Natwar Singh, mentioned as a non-contractual beneficiary with respect to Contract Number M/09/54, was a beneficiary in so far that the role played by him in influencing the procurement of the contracts had fructified," the ATR says.

It says while there is no evidence to suggest that Natwar Singh had personally benefited monetarily from the scam that cost him his job in November, there is enough evidence to suggest that he had "misused" his powers.

But speaking to reporters outside parliament, a nonplussed Natwar Singh said he is ready to face any action.

"Aage aage dekhiye hota hai kya (Wait for what happens next)," he replies, preferring to keep his future course of action close to his chest.

The Government said the documents available with the Pathak committee are "authentic and reliable" and that the transactions of two contracts that are probed are genuine.