Court Issues Summons to Sanjay Bhandari in Money Laundering Case, Asks ED to Expedite Extradition

A special PMLA court has issued summons to alleged defence middleman Sanjay Bhandari and asked the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to expedite the process of his extradition, the central agency said on Friday. The court’s order came on Thursday after it took cognisance of a chargesheet filed by the ED against Bhandari, linked foreign companies and others on June 1 under various sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The special judge at Rouse Avenue Court here said, “Issued summons to the accused persons and directed the ED to expedite the process of extradition against Sanjay Bhandari pending before UK authorities so that he can be brought to India for trial in accordance with law.” The agency said its probe found that “Bhandari stashed black money abroad with the assistance of his accomplices to evade taxes, causing huge financial loss to the national exchequer”. “Bhandari owned assets in various foreign jurisdictions, incorporated various entities in UAE as owner or beneficial owner and also had financial interest in an entity incorporated in Panama.