Tuesday, September 5 2006 12:08 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Supreme Court yesterday (Sept 4, 2006) dismissed a petition filed by Andaleeb Sehgal, Director of Hamadan Exports, the company embroiled in the Iraqi oil-for-food scam, seeking stay on any further action based on the report of Justice R S Pathak Inquiry Authority.

Maintaining that a petition in this regard was pending before the Delhi High Court which had also passed some interim orders, a Bench comprising Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justice C K Thakkar said in view of it we are not inclined to interfere in the matter.



The Pathak panel has found that Andaleeb, friend of Natwar Singh's son Jagat, had benefitted from the deal.

The Enforcement Directorate had yesterday issued showcause notices to former External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh, his son Jagat, Andaleeb and others for alleged irregularities in the scam.

Andaleeb had moved the apex court seeking stay of proceedings initiated by various departments of Revenue as recommended in the Action-Taken-Report (ATR) by the Finance Ministry.



He had sought stay of the proceedings before the Income Tax Department, Enforcement Directorate, CBDT and CBEC.

He had contended that during the pendency of his petition before the High Court it would not be proper for the agencies to proceed against him as it would be against the priciples of natural justice.

The Pathak report had found that Natwar and Jagat had used their offices to recommend to Iraqi authorities to supply oil coupons to Sehgal and his friend Adiitya Khanna. It opined that the duo had drawn profits from the entire deal.