ED detains Natwar associate in oil-for-food scam

New Delhi, Apr 11 (UNI) Emigration officials here ''detained', and later left, a close associate of former External Affairs minister Natwar Singh, whose name figured during investigations into the oil-for-food scam, while he was about to leave for London.

Vipin Khanna, an arms dealer and reportedly one of the ''key players'' in the oil-for-food deal, was detained at the IGI Airport here and handed over to the sleuths of the Enforcement Directorate, according to sources.

The accused, who was detained on Sunday last, was allowed to go after ''several hours'' of questioning.

Khanna had earlier been questioned by ED in December last year.

After his son Aditya's name figured in the Volcker controversy, he was kept under scanner, said sources, adding a strict vigil was kept on him after his son managed to give police the ''slip'' and ''escaped'' to London recently.

The officials said Khanna had not responded to the ED's call to appear before it again in connection with the ongoing probe into the controversy.

He has been asked to ''stay back'' until his son Aditya, an NRI based in London, returns to India.

The passport of Aditya had been revoked by the External Affairs Ministry on March 18 after the ED learnt that funds of the 'deal' to all the beneficiaries had been transferred from his London bank account.

The ED believes it was Aditya who allegedly received Rs eight crore from Swiss firm Masefield -- the company which lifted oil from Iraq in lieu of oil coupons issued to Natwar Singh.

Passports of others named in the controversy, including Natwar Singh's son Jagat Singh, his business associate Andleep Sehgal, prominent businessman Vijay Dhar, youth Congress leader Jameel Zaidi and one Asad Khan are already with the Enforcement Directorate.

Vipin Khanna's second son Arvind Khanna, an MLA from Sangrur in Punjab on a Congress ticket, is also under the ED scanner after it was found that the proceeds of the oil-for-food scam were allegedly routed to its Indian beneficiaries through his accounts in London and Delhi.

The ED has also sought his prosecution for having received foreign contributions without the prior approval of the government.

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