Delhi High Court rejects arms consultant Sanjay Bhandari's plea against "fugitive economic offender" tag

The Delhi High Court on Thursday rejected a plea filed by UK-based arms consultant Sanjay Bhandari against a trial court order declaring him a "fugitive economic offender".

"Appeal dismissed," Justice Neena Bansal Krishna said.

A detailed judgement is awaited.

The trial court had in July 2025 declared Bhandari a “fugitive economic offender” (FEO) under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018. This was on a plea by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Bhandari, who has been living in the United Kingdom since leaving India in 2016 after tax raids, argues that the FEO declaration is legally unsustainable.

According to reports, ED filed a criminal case against Sanjay Bhandari and others under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in February 2017, based on an Income Tax chargesheet under the Black Money Act, 2015.

While declaring him a fugitive, the trial court held that an accused, who chooses not to return to India, cannot avoid the legal consequences of that decision, including the application of Section 14 of the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal with advocates Avneesh Arputham, Aparajita Jamwal and Ankit Sharma appeared for Sanjay Bhandari.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, Special Counsel Zoheb Hossain, Panel Counsel Vivek Gurnani as well as advocates Kartik Sabharwal, Pranjal Tripathi and Satyam represented the ED.