Tycoon's stinging attack on agent

Billionaire steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal today angrily hit back at claims that he failed to pay a celebrity estate agent her six-figure "finder's fee" over the purchase of Britain's most expensive house.

The Indian tycoon bought the lavish, £70million Kensington property in April this year from Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone.

Estate agent Adina Kohn is now suing Mr Mittal for allegedly refusing to give her £350,000 she claims she is owed for first showing him the imposing 15-bedroom residence seven years ago.

But friends of the controversial magnate today said he is furious about the claims and has vowed to fight them. "The whole family is very upset," one told the Standard. "Ms Kohn's allegations are baseless and are being taken to court.

"Mr Mittal is a very private man, but he wants to put the record straight on this as he feels he is being unfairly portrayed. This is a matter of principle."

Ms Kohn, who owns ASK Property Consultants in Hampstead and has found homes for stars including Kate Winslet and Sam Mendes, introduced Mr Mittal and his wife, Usha, to the property in 1997. It was then owned by another billionaire, David Khalili, and Mr Mittal's purchase fell through.

Ms Kohn insists that, in July 1997, she and the Mittals signed an agreement - with no expiry date - to pay her a half per cent of the price of any property she might introduce to them.

But a statement today on behalf of the Mittals says: "Adina Kohn showed the family a number of houses in London earlier this year. However, 18-19 Kensington Palace Gardens was not one of them."

While confirming that Ms Kohn had introduced the family to the house seven years ago, the Mittals emphasised that their offer at the time had been rejected - and the house sold to someone else.

"At no time since 1997 did Adina Kohn indicate to the Mittal family that 18-19 Kensington Palace Gardens had come back on to the market," the statement says. "The house was introduced to the Mittals by another property agent this year and this introduction led to the ultimate purchase."

The statement adds: "The Mittal family intend to defend the proceedings issued by Adina Kohn vigorously."

The huge property, which once housed both the Russian and Egyptian embassies, features its own underground car park, a swimming pool supported by huge pillars inlaid with precious stones, a Turkish bath and a ballroom.

Ms Kohn claims that she continued an amicable relationship with the Mittals for seven years, during which time she showed them numerous properties. They then, she claims, "went behind her back" to avoid the commission.

Ms Kohn's barrister, Jonathan Goldberg QC, said: "My client is sure of one basic truth. She introduced him to that beautiful house, of which he had previously known nothing, and by doing so she did what their written agreement demanded of her. She just wants to be paid what she is owed."

Steel billionaire Mr Mittal, 53, is Britain's fifth richest man, with a personal fortune said to be worth £3.5 billion. Last month he splashed out £30million for his daughter Vanisha's wedding in France.

He is also no stranger to controversy. Two years ago his ?125,000 donation to the Labour Party sparked a cash-for-favours row when it emerged Tony Blair had written to the Romanian premier backing Mr Mittal's bid to buy the country's Sidex steelworks.