Date:17/11/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/11/17/stories/2005111703750900.htm

Back `Info sought from cos named in Volcker report'

Our Bureau

New Delhi , Nov. 16

THE Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, has said that the Government has sought information from some companies mentioned in the Volcker Committee report on the involvement in Iraq's Oil-for-Food scam.

"We have asked a few companies to come and share some information with us," Mr Chidambaram said replying to a question at the Economic Editors' Conference, 2005. A total of around 130 Indian companies find a place in the Volcker report.

He, however, said that it would be premature to give out any specifics on the entities being looked into and the kind of information sought from them.

Mr Chidambaram also clarified that the Government had not, at any point, threatened legal action against the United Nations on the Volcker report revelations. He said that the Congress (which has been named in the report) had merely sent a "comprehensive legal notice demanding full disclosure of documents."