In a new twist to the probe in the Volcker oil-for-food scandal, Jagat Singh, son of former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh, has admitted he conducted a “sting’’ operation against his friend Andaleeb Sehgal who is also one of those show-caused by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the case.

Andaleeb gave sworn testimony to ED claiming how Jagat instructed him to route $103,500 of the pay-offs into off-shore accounts which would then be shared between them.

Now Andaleeb is shown on tape, aired on India TV today, suggesting to Jagat that he was coerced by ED officials into giving that incriminating statement. The Jagat-Andaleeb meeting, where the sting was conducted, was held with their lawyers in the business centre of a hotel. It is not clear whether the lawyers were aware of the secret taping.

According to the ED’s 102-page complaint, first obtained by The Indian Express, Andaleeb told investigators: “Jagat Singh told me that whatever the final remuneration could be shared between us. I also asked Jagat as to where he would like to receive the share of the commissions.”

In the sting, Jagat admits that after reading Andaleeb’s statement in The Indian Express, he decided to procure a video for a sting. Sehgal refused to comment. ED officials said they had “warned’’ Sehgal that such mischief might be afoot and have now asked for security for him.