Technoglitch
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A month after searches by enforcement agencies on defence dealer Sanjay Bhandari, which has thrown up a flurry of documents, emails and phone call records, officials are yet to question many of those mentioned in the documents. The documents have thrown up the defence dealer's links with the who's who of India, as well as details of his properties in the UAE, London and the Panama Islands.
Documents seen by Outlook clearly show that in addition to being in touch with Congress President Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law, Robert Vadra, Bhandari was also in contact with senior BJP and Congress leaders. Call data records of Bhandari shows that he was in contact with BJP leader Siddharth Nath Singh, who made over 450 calls to Bhandari "within a short span of time", finance ministry officials admit.
Singh says he was in touch with Bhandari as he was a social acquaintance but did not know of the nature of the business Bhandari was in. "I have known him as a family friend for several years and even attended his daughter's wedding. I knew he was very rich but I thought his business was in refining as his father was in the ONGC. I came to know what his real business was only after the income tax department raided him," Singh told Outlook.
But it is Bhandari's alleged links with Robert Vadra that is raising eyebrows. The source of funds for a property in London, 12 Ellerton House, Bryanston Square, bought for nearly Rs 19 crore in 2009, is suspected to have been funded by Sanjay Bhandari. Details of emails show that Vadra and his assistant, Manoj Arora, were in touch with Bhandari's pointsman in London, Sumit Chaddha, regarding payments of the property as well as renovation work that was being undertaken there.
In a statement to Outlook, Vadra's lawyers claim he "does not own directly or indirectly, an house described by you 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 Mr Sanjay Bhandari and are not even aware that Mr Sanjay Bhandari is involved in any defense transaction".
Defence Dealer Had Links With Vadra, BJP Leaders
Documents seen by Outlook clearly show that in addition to being in touch with Congress President Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law, Robert Vadra, Bhandari was also in contact with senior BJP and Congress leaders. Call data records of Bhandari shows that he was in contact with BJP leader Siddharth Nath Singh, who made over 450 calls to Bhandari "within a short span of time", finance ministry officials admit.
Singh says he was in touch with Bhandari as he was a social acquaintance but did not know of the nature of the business Bhandari was in. "I have known him as a family friend for several years and even attended his daughter's wedding. I knew he was very rich but I thought his business was in refining as his father was in the ONGC. I came to know what his real business was only after the income tax department raided him," Singh told Outlook.
But it is Bhandari's alleged links with Robert Vadra that is raising eyebrows. The source of funds for a property in London, 12 Ellerton House, Bryanston Square, bought for nearly Rs 19 crore in 2009, is suspected to have been funded by Sanjay Bhandari. Details of emails show that Vadra and his assistant, Manoj Arora, were in touch with Bhandari's pointsman in London, Sumit Chaddha, regarding payments of the property as well as renovation work that was being undertaken there.
In a statement to Outlook, Vadra's lawyers claim he "does not own directly or indirectly, an house described by you 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 Mr Sanjay Bhandari and are not even aware that Mr Sanjay Bhandari is involved in any defense transaction".
Defence Dealer Had Links With Vadra, BJP Leaders
