New Delhi, Aug 2 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its legal pursuit of UK-based arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari, filing a formal application before Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court to confiscate his properties in India and abroad.
The move follows Bhandari’s recent designation as a Fugitive Economic Offender (FEO) under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018.
During the hearing, ED counsel argued that all assets directly or indirectly linked to Bhandari — whether held through corporate entities or personal ownership — are liable for confiscation.
The agency informed the court that no objections had been raised by any third party regarding the listed properties, thereby clearing the path for legal seizure.
The ED’s plea includes a wide array of assets, reportedly spanning prime real estate in Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, and overseas holdings in London and Dubai.
Among the properties under scrutiny is the controversial Bryanston Square residence in London, which ED alleges was purchased and renovated using funds linked to Bhandari and, allegedly, on behalf of businessman Robert Vadra — a claim Vadra has consistently denied.
According to ED submissions, once an individual is declared an FEO, two categories of assets become subject to confiscation; those acquired through criminal proceeds and any other property — domestic or foreign — in which the offender has a direct or indirect stake.
The agency emphasised that this legal mechanism is designed to prevent economic offenders from evading prosecution by relocating abroad.
Bhandari, who fled to the UK in 2016 following income tax raids, is accused of concealing foreign income worth Rs 655 crore and evading taxes amounting to Rs 196 crore.
Despite a UK court rejecting India’s extradition request, Indian authorities have continued to press for accountability through financial and judicial channels.
The Rouse Avenue Court has scheduled the next hearing for August 19, while the Delhi High Court is separately set to hear Bhandari’s appeal against the FEO designation on August 8.
The outcome of these proceedings will determine whether the ED can proceed with full-scale confiscation of Bhandari’s assets, marking a critical juncture in India’s crackdown on high-profile economic fugitives.
–IANS
sktr/rad
Disclaimer
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by BhaskarLive.in and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this website.
Through this website you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of BhaskarLive.in We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
Every effort is made to keep the website up and running smoothly. However, BhaskarLive.in takes no responsibility for, and will not be liable for, the website being temporarily unavailable due to technical issues beyond our control.
For any legal details or query please visit original source link given with news or click on Go to Source.
Our translation service aims to offer the most accurate translation possible and we rarely experience any issues with news post. However, as the translation is carried out by third part tool there is a possibility for error to cause the occasional inaccuracy. We therefore require you to accept this disclaimer before confirming any translation news with us.
If you are not willing to accept this disclaimer then we recommend reading news post in its original language.
