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Thursday, Nov 17, 2005

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National

Centre seeks records from Indian firms

Special Correspondent

Chidambaram denies Congress having said it would `sue U.N.'

NEW DELHI: The Centre has sought "records and information" from a few Indian companies, which figured in the Volcker report on Iraq oil-payoffs, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said here on Wednesday.

Responding to queries at the economic editors' conference, Mr. Chidambaram said: "We have asked a few companies to share with us some records and information. Beyond that, I don't want to say anything."

Asked if the companies named were being probed for tax evasion, he said: "It is premature to disclose anything about the investigation."

Mr. Chidambaram pooh-poohed media reports which claimed that the UPA Government and the Congress party had threatened to sue the United Nations for naming the former External Affairs Minister, Natwar Singh, and the party in the Volcker findings.

Putting the record straight, Mr Chidambaram said: "On November 3, two statements were issued — one by Prime Minister's Office and another by the Congress Party. Please read them carefully. Nowhere, the words `sue U.N.' have been used."

All that the Congress party's statement said was that it would issue a comprehensive legal notice seeking full disclosure of the deals. Subsequently, a comprehensive legal notice signed by a lawyer was sent in this regard, he said.

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