Sleuths trace money to Jagat via a Merc

The Enforcement Directorate has seized a Mercedes-Benz car, belonging to former external affairs minister Natwar Singh's son Jagat Singh and purchased from the money allegedly received as kickbacks in the oil-for-food scam.

As the ED is all set to issue a show cause notice to various people in connection with the case, this fresh development indicates that money has been traced back to Jagat.

This was something the Pathak inquiry authority, which submitted its report to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, could not establish, ED sources claimed.

ED sources said they seized the car, which was in the name of a travel agent identified as Chetan Gupta, 10 days ago.

However, they claimed that Jagat purchased the vehicle from the money he had allegedly received from the sale of oil coupons from the Saddam Hussein regime and passed on to two persons close to him and his father.