Delhi court allows ED to seize fugitive arms dealer’s assets

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court Tuesday allowed confiscation of properties and assets linked to UK-based arms dealer and fugitive economic offender Sanjay Bhandari in a money laundering case probed by ED, reports Koushiki Saha. Bhandari, allegedly a middleman in defence deals, is accused of routing funds through shell companies and investing in properties in the UAE and UK between 2009 and 2016. He was declared an fugitive economic offender on July 5, 2025, after which the court began identifying assets liable for confiscation. Special Judge Sanjay Jindal found that certain immovable properties in Gurgaon & Noida registered in Bhandari’s name, along with seven Indian bank accounts, were owned by him as there was “no clear denial/convincing rebuttal”. The court included these assets for confiscation. Bhandari argued ED had failed to show the properties belonged to him or were benami or linked to any scheduled offence. The court rejected this, holding that once declared an FEO, he could no longer dispute the “identity, nature, or ownership” of the properties at this stage. ED alleged Bhandari had undisclosed foreign income of Rs 655 crore and evaded Rs 196 crore in tax.