Wednesday, November 9 2005 17:22 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Enforcement Directorate officials today (Nov 9, 2005) continued to question two partners of controversial firm Hamdan Exports in connection with the Iraqi oil-for-food scam.

Andaleeb Sehgal, a close friend of Union Minister K Natwar Singh's son Jagat, and Vikas Dhar were questioned in the office of the ED at Khan Market in south Delhi.

This is the third straight day of questioning for Sehgal and the second for Dhar. Sehgal was grilled for 16 hours over the past two days.

The duo were questioned about some suspicious bank transactions allegedly made by Hamdan, the firm's business interests in Iraq during Saddam Hussein's regime and whether it had clearances under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, ED sources said.

Some satellite telephone calls made bypassing VSNL in 2000 were also being investigated, they added.

The ED had also searched the residence and office of Sehgal in connection with allegations that he had been a non-contractual beneficiary in Iraq's oil-for-food programme.