UK Uses 'Human Rights' Card to Block Bhandari Extradition

The judgement in arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari's case, and the grounds relied on by the court, are likely to be cited by other economic offenders who are fighting their extradition to India, including Mehul Choksi and Vijay Mallya.

- ABHINANDAN MISHRA

The UK High Court has blocked the extradition of arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari, who fled to London in 2016, despite affirming that his alleged financial crimes met the criteria for extradition.

The decision, delivered on 28 February, cited "severe" human rights risks to Bhandari if extradited. The court found that extraditing Bhandari would violate his fundamental rights because of "appalling prison conditions" in Tihar and the "unfair legal proceedings" he would face in India.

The High Court of Justice King's Bench Division, among other things, relied on the alleged delay in the trial of UK nationals Christian Michel and Jagtar Johal and the death of gangster Tillu Tajpuriya, who was murdered in May 2023 in a gang-related incident inside Tihar prison.

The judgement in this case, and the grounds relied on by the court, are likely to be cited by other economic offenders who are fighting their extradition to India including Mehul Choksi and Vijay Mallya.

As per court documents, Bhandari faced two extradition requests from the Government of India.

The first request concerned allegations of money laundering under Section 3 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002 (PMLA), while the second related to charges of wilfully attempting to evade taxes under Section 51 of the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act 2015 (BMA).

In his appeal at the High Court, Bhandari had raised six key grounds for appeal challenging his extradition that was ordered by the lower court in November 2022.