Volcker Report: Term of Justice Pathak Panel extended by three mont

New Delhi, Apr 27 (UNI) The Government today extended by three months, till August 10, the term of Justice RS Pathak Committee Inquiry Authority probing charges of involvement against individuals and entities in India in the Iraqi oil-for-food scam.

The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The authority was set up in November following the publication of the report of the Paul Volcker committee, set up by the United Nations to go into alleged financial irregularities in the UN oil-for-food scheme to help sanctions-hit Saddam Hussain regime in Iraq.

The Volcker report had named then External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh, the Congress party and Jammu and Kashmir Panthers Party President Bhim Singh as non-contractual beneficieries.

Several Indian companies, including State Trading Corporation and Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) were also named in the report.

Earlier in the day, Mr Natwar Singh had, in an interview to CNBC TV channel, opposed the proposed extension to the Pathak panel. In fact, he had sought the authority to go on ''fast track'' to enable him and his son, Jagat Singh, to come out clean from the episode.

UNI SH/SN PA GC2045