The Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday asked the central government to order the Central Bureau of Investigation to file a criminal case against External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh, his son Jagat Singh and friend Andleep Sehgal on the basis of the Volker report, and investigate the matter.

Addressing a news conference in New Delhi, BJP leader Arun Jaitley said media reports were pointing towards a probe either by a former judge or a diplomat. This would amount to bailing out the accused persons as those conducting the probe could argue that those under investigation were not co-operating.

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"It is, therefore, imperative that a criminal case be registered with the appropriate agency and investigative procedures be initiated. A disoriented foreign minister should not be allowed to continue in office during the pendency of such an investigation," he said.

He questioned the delay in the ordering of investigations, considering that when the Tehelka disclosures were made, Sonia Gandhi [Images], who was then the leader of the opposition, had sought that a criminal case be registered first before the investigations were carried on. The same yardstick should be applied now," Jaitley said.

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"If most of this evidence is available outside India, neither a retired diplomat nor a retired judge under the Commissions of Inquiry Act would be empowered to take coercive procedure to collect this evidence. For this, Letters of Request would have to be issued by the investigative agencies and appropriate courts in India to the appropriate courts/agencies in those foreign countries," he said.

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The BJP also wanted know why Sonia gave Natwar a letter to be given to Saddam Hussein and what its contents were.

"It should also be investigated whether Sonia was also a beneficiary," a senior BJP leader stated.

Complete Coverage: The Volcker Report