The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday sought from defence consultant Sanjay Bhandari details of his bank accounts and properties as part of its investigation into his financial dealings.
The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday sought from defence consultant Sanjay Bhandari details of his bank accounts and properties as part of its investigation into his financial dealings.
The ED action comes even as the Income-Tax Department has sought information from some countries about properties purchased by Mr Bhandari, one of which is said to have been owned and later sold by Robert Vadra in London, allegedly facilitated by Mr Bhandari. Mr Vadra has denied the charges. Mr Vadra’s lawyers have already said he “does not own directly or indirectly, an house — as quoted in media reports as No 12, Ellerton House, Bryanston Square, London” — and that Mr Vadra and his assistant “have not entered into any transaction of a financial nature with Sanjay Bhandari and are not even aware that Bhandari is involved in any defense transaction”.
It is learnt that Mr Bhandari may also face a case under the Officials Secrets Act (OSA) as the I-T Department has allegedly recovered the minutes of a meeting regarding defence acquisitions from his residence during raids in the last week of April this year. Sources said the I-T Department has shared with the ED all documents and information in its possession about Mr Bhandari. The ED may file a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act once the defence ministry gives its opinion about the classification of defence documents recovered and a case under the OSA is registered against him.
The income-tax returns of Mr Bhandari and his set of companies, besides Mr Vadra’s companies, are being examined afresh by tax sleuths.
