Court Permits ED to Seize Sanjay Bhandari’s Assets, Fugitive Arms Dealer
Delhi court permits ED to confiscate assets of fugitive arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari. Properties in Gurgaon and Noida identified along with seven bank accounts.
A Delhi court has authorized the Enforcement Directorate to seize assets belonging to UK-based fugitive arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari. The confiscation includes properties in Gurgaon and Noida along with seven Indian bank accounts.
Sanjay Bhandari, ED, Delhi Court, Fugitive Economic Offender, Money Laundering, Gurgaon Properties, Noida Properties, UK Arms Dealer, Tax Evasion, Bank Accounts
NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Tuesday permitted the confiscation of properties and assets linked to UK-based arms dealer and fugitive economic offender Sanjay Bhandari in a money laundering case investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Bhandari, who allegedly acted as 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 a fugitive economic offender on July 5, 2025, following which the court began identifying assets liable for confiscation.
Special Judge Sanjay Jindal observed that certain immovable properties in Gurgaon and 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 proceeded to include these assets for confiscation.
Bhandari contended that the ED had failed to establish that the properties belonged to him, were benami, or connected to any scheduled offence. The court rejected this argument, noting that once declared a fugitive economic offender, he could no longer dispute the “identity, nature, or ownership” of the properties at this stage.
The ED alleged that Bhandari had undisclosed foreign income amounting to Rs 655 crore and had evaded Rs 196 crore in taxes.
