SC directs ED to return Vipin Khanna's passport

New Delhi, Feb 5 (UNI) The Supreme Court today directed the Enforcement Directorate to return the passport of NRI Vipin Khanna, whose companies are under investigation for their alleged involvement in the Oil-for-Food scam.

A Bench comprising Justices G K Thakker and Lokeshwar Singh Panta directed the ED to return the passport by February 15 to the petitioner. The CBI will have a photocopy of the passport and Khanna will have to appear before the ED on February 12.

The court also directed that Khanna will have to join the investigation as and when directed to do so by the authorities. The NRI will have to give his local address to the authorities.

The authorities had impounded his passport in September last year when it came to light that Khanna, a relative of former External Affairs Natwar Singh was one of the beneficiaries of the scandal which was exposed by the Volcker Committee report.

The petitioner had moved the SC seeking release of his passport to go to England.

Mr Natwar Singh had to resign as Minister when the scandal, which took place during Saddam Hussain regime in Iraq in 2001, came to light.

Andaleep Sehgal, in whose firm account the ill-gotten money was deposited, is also an accused in the case.

UNI