A Delhi court has sanctioned the confiscation of properties and assets linked to Sanjay Bhandari, a UK-based arms dealer and fugitive economic offender, as part of a money laundering investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Special Judge Sanjay Jindal ordered the seizure of certain properties in India and abroad, while reserving a decision on additional assets for July 18. The court categorized Bhandari's properties into two lists for the ED's confiscation process. On July 5, Bhandari was declared a fugitive economic offender, allowing the ED to seize his assets deemed as proceeds of crime or 'benami' in nature. This designation also prohibits him from defending any civil suits in India. The court noted that Bhandari had willfully avoided returning to India to face charges related to an Income Tax case exceeding ₹100 crore (approximately $12 million USD). The ED claims Bhandari has undisclosed foreign income of ₹655 crore (around $79 million USD) and has evaded taxes amounting to ₹196 crore (about $24 million USD). Bhandari is accused of being a middleman in defense deals and of laundering money linked to properties associated with high-profile individuals.