The Delhi High Court on Thursday (April 9, 2026) upheld a trial court's order declaring U.K.-based arms consultant Sanjay Bhandari a "fugitive economic offender" in connection with a money laundering case.
"Appeal dismissed," Justice Neena Bansal Krishna said.
On July 5, 2025, the trial court declared Mr. Bhandari a "fugitive economic offender" on a plea by the Enforcement Directorate, which enables the agency to confiscate all of Mr. Bhandari's assets worth crores of rupees.
Mr. Bhandari's chances of coming to India have been virtually nullified after a U.K. court ruled against his extradition.
His legal team, while opposing the ED's move to declare him a fugitive offender, claimed its "client's stay could not be called illegal in the U.K. as he has a legal right to reside there, and the government of India is bound by the judgment of the U.K. court... Mr. Bhandari is legally living there, and declaring him a 'fugitive' in that scenario is legally wrong".
