I don't have a Mercedes, says Jagat Singh

Amid reports of Enforcement Directorate seizing a Mercedes allegedly belonging to the son of former external affairs minister Natwar Singh, Jagat Singh Friday denied owing the luxury vehicle and asked the agency to prove their claim.

"I don't have a Mercedes. I challenge the Enforcement Directorate to produce the insurance documents and registration papers of the car," Jagat Singh told television channels. Accusing the investigating agency of levelling false allegations against him, Jagat said "I don't have any Mercedes Benz. Since last month, the Enforcement Directorate is regularly changing its stand sometimes saying that Jagat Singh has received Rs 8 crore... they are after me."

According to the Enforcement Directorate, the vehicle, which was seized ten days back, was purchased from the money allegedly received as kickbacks in the oil-for-food scam but was in the name of one travel agent identified as Chetan Gupta.

The Justice Pathak Committee has indicted Natwar Singh and his MLA son Jagat for procurement of contracts in the UN oil-for-food programme in Iraq during Saddam Hussain's regime but no money has been traced to them.

The ED claimed that the vehicle was purchased by Jagat from the money he had allegedly received from the sale of oil coupons from the Saddam Hussain regime and passed on to two persons close to him and his father.