Delhi HC rejects Sanjay Bhandari's plea against 'fugitive offender' tag

Delhi HC upholds Sanjay Bhandari's 'fugitive economic offender' status, allowing asset confiscation amid ongoing money laundering investigations.

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".

The trial court said the "extradition attempt may have failed, but it will not make the accused an angel or immune from prosecution for the violation of Indian laws".