Volcker issue: ED grills NRI businessman again

London-based NRI businessman Aditya Khanna, whose name cropped up in connection with the probe into the oil-for-food scam, was questioned by the ED.

London-based NRI businessman Aditya Khanna, whose name cropped up in connection with the probe into the oil-for-food scam, was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate for the second consecutive day on Tuesday to ascertain the names of alleged Indian beneficiaries in the scam.

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Khanna, who was picked up from the airport on Monday on his arrival from London, was called to the ED headquarters where he is understood to have faced questions about the links of former External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh and his son Jagat.

Khanna, who runs a restaurant in London, returned after the ED had threatened of stern action if he failed to make himself available for questioning by the probe agency.

During his grilling last month, he had claimed before the ED that businessman Andaleep Sehgal, a friend of Jagat, was the front man in the entire scam brought out by the Volcker Committee report.

However, during the questioning of Andaleep last Sunday, more information about Khanna are understood to have been shared with the ED prompting the agency to grill the NRI with more facts about his alleged role in lifting oil from Iraq.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Khanna said the NRI was questioned by the ED on Tuesday but maintained that he had come to India at his will and not under any pressure from the probe agency.