TOI Correspondent from London: Defence middleman Sanjay Bhandari’s lawyers say he couldface violence and extortion in Tihar Jail if extradited to India.
The 62-year-old Indian national’s appeal against extradition to India concluded at the high court on Thursday. The judgment will be handed down next year.
Bhandari was appealing an order to extradite him to India for tax evasion and money laundering made by the UK home secretary in Jan 2023.
Bhandari helps win defence contracts with the Indian govt for defence manufacturers via his company Offset India Solutions. He appeared in court each day dressed in black.
The court heard he had £65 million (Rs 700 crore) worth of foreign assets, including bank accounts and properties in the UK and Dubai, that he had not declared on his tax returns in India, when resident in India, which breached Sec 51 of India’s Black Money Act of 2015. He then moved to London.
Edward Fitzgerald KC, representing Bhandari, said Bhandari could face violence and extortion from both prisoners and prison staff in Tihar jail, which, he said, is chronically overcrowded.
He cited the Sukash Chandrashekar extortion racket and the murder of Tillu Tajpuria on May 2, 2023, watched by eight prison guards, as well as the murder of Ankit Gujjar in Jail No. 3 (where Bhandari will be housed) as examples. He said Bhandari was at real risk of being tortured during interrogation.
He pointed out that UK national Jagtar Singh Johal, jailed at Tihar, had alleged torture, and Christian Michel had been denied effective consular access.
Ben Keith, representing the Indian govt, said conditions in Tihar jail were “acceptable”.
Fitzgerald also argued Bhandari would face a flagrant denial of justice in India, he would not get bail, and his trial would take years.
James Stansfeld, also representing Bhandari, argued the offences were not extradition offences and Delhi had failed to establish a prima facie case.
