New Delhi: The 623-page UN inquiry report by former US Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker has named 125 Indian companies as beneficiaries in Iraq's Oil-for-Food programme.
STC, Kirloskar Engines, Ajanta Pharma, Mohan Exports, L T Overseas Ltd, Jord Engineers, National Electrical Industry, Jain Irrigation Systems, Lucky Exports and Airpac Exports are among the 2,400 firms from all over the world paid Iraq $ 1.8 billion.
The Finance Minister P Chidambaram said on Wednesday that the government has asked a few Indian companies that figured in the report to "share" records and information.
He said, "We have asked a few companies to share their records with us. Beyond that, I don't want to say anything."
This is the first sign of any action being taken against the companies since the Volcker committee findings on Iraq oil pay-offs was made public.
He added that it was too early to disclose anything about the investigation and whether the tax department was looking into the books of 125 Indian companies named by Volcker for tax evasion.
Chidambaram also said that the Congress would not dream of suing the United Nations for naming former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh and the party in the Volcker findings.
He stated that nowhere was the word ?sue? used in the statements issued by the Prime Minister's Office and the Congress Party on November 3.
"The Congress party's statement said was that it would issue a comprehensive legal notice seeking full disclosure of the deals," he said.
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