Documents seized from his premises have shown that a number of officials from different foreign defence firms were in touch with him on a regular basis
New Delhi: Some leading foreign defence firms, who are major players in the Indian market, have come under the scanner of investigating agencies for their alleged links with defence consultant Sanjay Bhandari who is being probed for alleged tax evasion. Sources said Bhandari’s call data records and documents seized from his premises during a recent IT search have allegedly shown that a number of officials from different foreign defence firms were in touch with him on a regular basis.
He is said to have played a role in securing contracts for the defence firms. While the companies claimed that they were in touch with him and many Indian firms for offset obligations, investigating agencies believe there is more to it. Bhandari runs a company involved in carrying out offsets, reports PTI.
During the searches carried out by the Income Tax department, papers of the Defence Ministry, including those related to a much-delayed proposal to buy mid-air refuellers, were allegedly found in his possession.
Airbus, a contender for the contract, did not respond to emails sent by PTI asking if it was in touch with Bhandari. Investigators are now looking into how and why he got the documents. The Income Tax department had a few days ago carried out searches in half-a-dozen cities in connection with its probe into the alleged financial irregularities and suspected tax evasion in the DIAL-AAI deal relating to the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) here.
Premises of corporate consultant Deepak Talwar were also searched by the department.
