Volcker: Natwar, Jagat appear before Pathak Panel

New Delhi, May 31: Former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh and his son Jagat today appeared before the Justice R S Pathak Inquiry Authority probing allegations about payment of kickbacks in India in the UN's oil-for-food programme in Iraq.

They explained their position to the panel for nearly two hours.

This was the second day in succession that Jagat, an MLA in Rajasthan, appeared for the in-camera hearing at Vigyan Bhawan.

Mr Singh was named as a 'non-contractual beneficiary' alongwith the Congress party in the Paul Volcker report.

Former Indian Envoy to Croatia Aniel Matherani, whose comments brought Jagat and his friends into the probe purview, appeared before the panel two days back.

Claiming innocence, the Congress leaders have appealed to Mr Pathak, former Chief Justice of India and former Judge of the International Court of Justice, to speed up his probe.

The Government had set up the one man probe Authority under Mr Justice Pathak last November.

It is expected to submit its report in the next three months, Finance Minister P Chidambaram had informed parliament earlier this month.

UNI