ED opposes arms consultant's plea on 'fugitive' tag

NEW DELHI: ED on Friday opposed in Delhi HC a plea by UK-based arms consultant Sanjay Bhandari against a trial court order declaring him a " fugitive economic offender ". The agency said when the order was passed in July, the trial court was aware of an assessment order showing property worth Rs 655 crore being surreptitiously acquired.

Bhandari's counsel, senior advocate Kapil Sibal , contended before Justice Neena Bansal Krishna that the prosecution was initiated without completion of assessment proceedings. "They had no evidence to show that there was a Rs 100 crore tax liability," he submitted.

HC said it would hear the matter on Aug 20.