Officers of the Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax department carried out joint raids on the offices of Hamdaan Exports director Andleep Sehgal in various parts in Delhi [Images] on Sunday.

The raids were conducted at two places in Defence colony and one in Panchseel Park in South Delhi besides Sehgal's residence in the capital.

The raids were conducted following intensive interrogation of Sehgal, whose firm reportedly paid off illegal gratification money to the tune of $600,000 to $7.5 lakh to former Iraq President Saddam Hussein.

Sehgal, a friend of External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh's son Jagat Singh, had been evading the media for last one week after the UN made the report public, where in the name of Natwar Singh figured as one of the beneficiaries.

Natwar Singh, however, denied the charge as pack of lies.

The Enforcement Directorate had pasted notices on the house and offices of Andleep Sehgal, asking him to appear before the ED's office in Lodhi Complex and make his position clear. Sehgal went to the 6th floor office of the Enforcement directorate in the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Bhavan in Lodhi Road on Sunday morning, accompanied by his advocate.

According to sources, Sehagal denied having anything to do with oil contracts and also denied ever making payments to anyone.

Sources in the prime minister's office said the investigations by the ED and IT were part of the government drive to get to the bottom of the matter and establish if there is any truth in the charges made against Natwar Singh.

Complete Coverage: The Volcker Report