London: A UK court set a date for June 7, 2021, to initiate proceedings in the extradition case of wanted arms trader Sanjay Bhandari in India over money laundering charges. Has Bhandari was arrested in July on an extradition warrant. Bhandari was to appear before the Westminster Magistrate’s Court in London on Thursday for hearing. But District Judge DJ Goldsmith said today’s hearing has been postponed as all outstanding cases have been settled between the parties.
The court said that the terms of Bhandari’s bail have been extended till 5 February 2021. Britain’s Royal Prosecution Service (CPS), representing the Indian government in the extradition proceedings, said Indian authorities have requested to hand over the money laundering charges to Bhandari. The cases have been filed against Bhandari by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in India.
The Indian government’s extradition request for Bhandari was approved by British Home Minister Preeti Patel on 16 June. A month later, on July 15, Bhandari was arrested. Meanwhile, another round of hearing on the extradition of diamond trader Nirav Modi was concluded on Thursday in the same court premises. Nirav Modi, wanted in a two-billion dollar fraud and money laundering case with Punjab National Bank (PNB), was arrested in March last year. The case against Nirav is to be heard again from November 3.
