Jagat Singh, Lakshamangarth MLA and son of Natwar Singh, who along with his father has been indicted in the Iraqi oil-for-food scam, was today expelled from the party for indiscipline and misconduct.

Acting on the recommendations of a disciplinary committee headed by senior leader Pradhyuman Singh, the party decided to expel Jagat after he failed to reply to the show-cause notice issued to him by Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee on August 18 when he was suspended from the party following his indictment by the Justice Pathak Authority. The notice had demanded an explanation over his alleged involvement in the oil-for-food scam, his derogatory remarks about senior Congressmen and criticising the party in public.

PCC president B.D. Kalla informed The Indian Express that Jagat had deliberately defied the show-cause notice by not replying to it. He added that Jagat had been expelled on the recommendations of a six-member Disciplinary Action Committee headed by senior Congressman and former state finance minister Pradhyuman Singh.

“Defying the show-cause notice after suspension from the party on August 18, Jagat not only involved himself in the pro-Natwar Swabhiman Rally but also openly assailed many senior Congress leaders from the dais on August 23, which was highly deplorable,” Kalla said.

The PCC executive committee had on August 23 approved the suspension of Jagat, and now after considering the recommendation of disciplinary committee, he was expelled, Kalla said. He said a letter notifying Jagat about the expulsion had already been issued.

The Pathak Authority had indicted Natwar and Jagat for misusing their positions to favour some people close to them in procuring oil contracts from the Saddam Hussein regime in 2001.