Arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari rejects fugitive label by ED

New Delhi: Renowned arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari has contested an application submitted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a Delhi court aiming to label him a fugitive in a money laundering case. He argues that his residence in the UK is lawful, citing the London High Court's decision to deny his extradition to India.

On April 11, a UK court denied the Indian government's extradition request for another suspect in the alleged multi-crore rice procurement scam, referencing a London High Court ruling in Bhandari's case.

Reports indicate that Mehul Choksi, a fugitive Indian diamond merchant recently arrested in Belgium, had also appealed to the London High Court against his extradition to India. He contested his extradition to India to answer charges of alleged tax evasion and money laundering.

The court mentioned that in Tihar Jail, he would encounter genuine risks of extortion along with threats or violence from fellow inmates and jail staff. Earlier this month, the UK High Court also rejected a petition by the Indian government, which sought permission to challenge its decision in the Supreme Court of Tritene.

On April 19, Bhandari, through his counsel, referred to previous judgments before Justice Sanjiv Aggarwal. The lawyer argued that his client's stay in the UK is not illegal, as he has a legal right to reside there and is subject to the UK court's judgment as per the Indian government.

Bhandari is residing there lawfully, and labeling him as a 'fugitive' under these circumstances is legally incorrect. Senior advocate Maninder Singh, representing Bhandari, argued that the ED's application was ambiguous, inaccurate, and beyond its jurisdiction as it did not meet the requirements of the Fugitive Offenders Act.