UK court order puts focus back on UPA def deals

A UK court’s order allowing the Enforcement Directorate’ plea for the extradition of fugitive arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari has come as a boost to the investigating agencies while putting the spotlight again on the alleged payoffs in defence deals under UPA.

- Pradeep Thakur

New Delhi: Bhandari faces multiple cases from Indian enforcement agencies for his alleged role in defence contracts, including a transfer of Rs 310 crore which the agencies suspect to be a payoff for the Pilatus aircraft deal negotiated under UPA.

Although Bhandari can challenge, just like Nirav Modi, the extradition order in high court, agencies here derive satisfaction from the fact that foreign courts have appreciated the strength of the cases many have dubbed politically motivated.