Delhi High Court Upholds Fugitive Economic Offender Tag on Sanjay Bhandari

The Delhi High Court on Thursday dismissed a plea filed by UK based arms consultant Sanjay Bhandari challenging his declaration as a “fugitive economic offender”, thereby upholding the trial court’s order and dealing a significant legal setback to him.

Pronouncing the verdict, Justice Neena Bansal Krishna succinctly stated that the “appeal is dismissed,” affirming the findings of the Tis Hazari court which had invoked provisions of the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 against Bhandari.

The High Court was hearing Bhandari’s appeal against the 05.07.2025 order passed by District Judge Sanjeev Aggarwal, who had concluded that the material on record satisfied the statutory requirements under Section 12(1) of the Act to declare him a fugitive economic offender.

Bhandari, who has been residing in London since 2016 after leaving India amid investigations, was represented by senior advocate Kapil Sibal along with a team of lawyers. The Enforcement Directorate was represented by Additional Solicitor General SV Raju and other law officers.

The trial court, in its earlier order, had underscored that the failure of extradition proceedings does not weaken the case against an accused. It had observed that the inability of authorities to secure the return of the accused to India does not grant immunity from prosecution or diminish the seriousness of the allegations.

The case dates back to 2016, when Bhandari left India shortly after searches conducted by the Income Tax Department in Delhi. Subsequent investigations by the Enforcement Directorate under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act led to the attachment of assets worth approximately Rs 21 crore.

In 2017, the ED registered a criminal case against Bhandari and others, taking cognisance of an Income Tax chargesheet.

The investigation later expanded, culminating in the filing of a prosecution complaint in 2020 focusing on alleged undisclosed foreign assets and financial dealings.

The matter has also attracted considerable public and political attention due to alleged links between Bhandari and Robert Vadra. In a supplementary chargesheet filed in 2023, the ED alleged that a London property located at 12 Bryanston Square was acquired by Bhandari in 2009 and subsequently renovated as per directions of Vadra, with funds allegedly routed for that purpose.

With the High Court affirming the trial court’s findings, Bhandari’s status as a fugitive economic offender remains intact, enabling authorities to continue proceedings under the special law, including potential confiscation of properties and other legal consequences.

The ruling reinforces the legal position that absconding from the jurisdiction of Indian courts does not shield individuals from being proceeded against under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, particularly in cases involving serious financial irregularities and cross border transactions.

Case Title: Sanjay Bhandari v. Enforcement Directorate

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