Delhi court declares arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari, residing in the UK, a Fugitive Economic Offender (FEO). He faces serious charges of money laundering, black money, and holding foreign assets. ED to expedite seizure proceedings.
Delhi: A special Delhi court has declared arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari, who resides in the UK, a 'Fugitive Economic Offender' under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018. This decision, delivered on a petition by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), clears the path for the seizure of his assets.
Sanjay Bhandari Declared FEO
A special court in Delhi, hearing a petition by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), has declared Sanjay Bhandari, an arms dealer and defense consultant residing in the UK, a 'Fugitive Economic Offender' (FEO) under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018.
This Act applies to economic offenders who commit crimes in India and flee abroad, failing to appear in court despite repeated summons. Following this decision, the ED now has the authority to seize his assets located in India and abroad.
Charges of Money Laundering and Illegal Assets
Sanjay Bhandari faces serious charges of money laundering, black money manipulation, and creating illegal assets abroad. The ED's investigation revealed that Bhandari allegedly earned crores of rupees through brokering in defense deals and converted that money into undeclared assets abroad. The Income Tax Department, ED, and CBI have conducted investigations against him at various stages. In a raid conducted by the Income Tax Department in 2016, some confidential defense documents and documents related to foreign assets were also recovered from him.
Legal Residency in London Not a Valid Defense
During the hearing, Sanjay Bhandari's counsel argued that he is legally residing in London and that the British court had already rejected India's extradition request. Therefore, he cannot be declared a fugitive under Indian law. However, the court rejected this argument. The court found that the accused has been deliberately avoiding Indian law and not responding to the summons of investigating agencies. Consequently, it was appropriate to declare him an FEO.
Name Linked to Robert Vadra
Sanjay Bhandari's name has also surfaced in a money laundering case linked to Robert Vadra, son-in-law of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. The Enforcement Directorate alleges that there have been connections between Vadra and Bhandari in the purchase and sale of a property in London. Although Robert Vadra has denied all the allegations, the ED's chargesheet identifies Bhandari as a key figure in the case.
Connections with Foreign Arms Companies
Bhandari's name has also been linked to several foreign arms companies that were vying to obtain defense deals contracts from the Indian government. According to the ED, Bhandari allegedly engaged in large-scale illegal transactions while acting as an intermediary in these deals.
Asset Seizure Process to be Expedited
After being declared a Fugitive Economic Offender by the court, the Enforcement Directorate will now expedite the process of seizing Sanjay Bhandari's movable and immovable assets. The ED can now identify and seize his assets not only in India but also those located abroad. This may include bank accounts, property, investments, and other financial resources.
