SC dismisses Andaleeb Seghal's petition

New Delhi, Sep 4 (UNI) The Supreme Court today dismissed the petition filed by Andaleeb Sehgal, a close relative of former External Affair Minister Natwar Singh, involved in the Oil-For-Food scam, seeking a stay against the investigation being carried out against him by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), Exercise Department and Enforcement Directorate(ED) in pursuant of his indictment by the Justice R S Pathak inquiry Authority.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justice CK Thakker told the petitioner that since Delhi High court already seized of the matter, this court does not want to entertain his petition.

Seghal in his petition sought a stay against action being taken on the findings of Justice Pathak Authority report on the grounds that since he was not heard by the authority and the report was based on one-sided version of the story.

Earlier,the Delhi High court had rejected his application for directions to the government not to table Pathak Authority report in Parliament.

Andaleep had transferred crores of rupees in the account of his firm M/s Hamdan Exports in 2001 during the regime of Saddam Hussain in Iraq and is one of the main beneficiaries of the scandal which was exposed in the Volcker Committee report.

It may be noted here that former Foreign Minister Natwar Singh and his son Jagat Singh were suspended from the primary membership of Congress party following their indictment by Justice Pathak Authority report and Natwar Singh was removed as Foreigh Minister.

The Pathak report, however, gave clean chit to the Congress.

The ED has already issued notices to Natwar Singh and Jagat Singh.Two other NRIs, Aditya Khanna and Vipin Khanna are also under the scanner of investigating agencies for being involved in the scandal.

UNI AKS/SC MS KP190