Probe Natwar-Amarinder nexus in Food-for-Oil scam: Badal

Chandigarh, Aug 9 (UNI) The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today demanded that the scope of the Enforcement Directorate'S (ED) probe in the Food-for-Oil scam be extended ''to cover the common links'' between former Foreign Minister Natwar Singh and Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh.

The alleged hawala transactions by the Chief Minister's son Raninder Singh in the Punjab Internet Company and the Natwar Singh case were closely linked, SAD general secretary and MP Sukhbir Singh Badal claimed in a statement released here.

The Internet Company scam had been probed by the Punjab government and a clean chit was given to the CMs son.

The statement asked the Congress president Sonia Gandhi to come clean on the alleged nexus between the two royal relatives in the alleged money laundering deals, especially those originating from Punjab, Mr Badal said. The wider links between the two scandals should be thoroughly probed by an independent central agency like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) or the ED, the statement said.

Mr Badal alleged that the former Union Minister had set up a ''virtual cartel'' with the Chief Minister and some of his other relatives. The SAD had insisted right from the beginning that there was a Natwar-Amarinder nexus on corrupt money made from mega projects, real estate deals and liquor loot in Punjab, he said.

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