Pilatus deal: Sanjay Bhandari's wife received Rs 25.5 crore, says CBI

Sonia Bhandari, wife of arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari, received Rs 25.5 crore from June 2012 to March 2015 from various companies of Sanjay's associate Deepak Aggarwal, which is suspected as commission paid by Swedish company Pilatus Aircraft Limited to obtain the contract for supplying 75 basic trainer aircraft, according to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Bhandari is already being investigated for allegedly buying a benami house for Congress President Rahul Gandhi's brother-in-law Robert Vadra in London.

The CBI on Saturday registered a case against arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari and others in the 2009 trainer aircraft deal case.

The CBI said that Sonia Bhandari has received about Rs 25.5 crore from June 2012 to March 2015 from various companies of Sanjay's aide Deepak Aggarwal. 

The companies are: Arti Securities and Services Limited, Hare Krishna Garments Private Limited, I-Tech Insurance Brokers Private Limited, Jaguar Equity Limited, Shridhar Portfolio Management Limited, Sperryn Gas Products Limited Tyagi Portfolio Management Private Limited, White Line Apparels Private Limited and Mysore Finlease Private Limited. 

With the help of Deepak Agarwal, Sanjay Bhandari took over five companies -- Greenpower Marketing and Advertising Pvt Ltd, Bhayana Housing Private Limited (now VRG Housing Pvt Ltd) Bhayana Reality Pvt Ltd (now Stercon Realty Pvt Ltd), Beats Event and Advertising Private Limited and Efficacy Interiors Private Limited from Himanshu Verma, alleged CBI. 

The CBI said in its FIR that Rs 39.36 crore was deposited in these five companies in lieu of cash provided by Sanjay Bhandari to Himanshu Verma through Deepak Agarwal.

Out of this Rs 39.36 crore, Rs 5.4 crore was transferred to Saran Savdha LLP belonging to Bimal Sareen, Director of Offset India Solutions Private Limited, by Greenpower Marketing and Advertisement Ltd of Verma during 2015-16. 

The CBI suspects that the huge cash amount was part of commission amounts paid by Pilatus Aircraft Limited to Bhandari to obtain the contract from IAF and Defence Ministry for the supply of 75 basic trainer aircraft. 

Other accused in the case are unknown officials of Pilatus Aircraft -- Sanjay Bhandari, Bimar Sareen, Agrwal, Verma -- companies Offset India Solution and Dubai-based Offset India Solutions FZC, unknown officials of Indian Air Force and Ministry of Defence under various charges dealing with cheating and criminal conspiracy and various provisions of Prevention of Corruption Acts. 

Fact Box 

The Money Trail in Swiss Pilatus aircraft deal

* The CBI has alleged that kickbacks up to Rs 339 crore were paid in the Swiss aircraft deal 

* Sonia Bhandari, wife of arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari allegedly received Rs 25.5 crore from June 2012 to March 2015 from various companies of Bhandari's associate, Deepak Aggarwal. 

* The companies are Arti Securities and Services Limited, Hare Krishna Garments Private Limited, I-Tech Insurance Brokers Private Limited, Jaguar Equity Limited, Shridhar Portfolio Management Limited, Sperryn Gas Products Limited, Tyagi Portfolio Management Private Limited, White Line Apparels Private Limited and Mysore Finlease Private Limited. 

* CBI has alleged that Rs 39.36 crore was deposited in Sanjay Bhandari's five companies -- Greenpower Marketing and Advertising Pvt Ltd, Bhayana Housing Private Limited (now VRG Housing Pvt Ltd) Bhayana Reality Pvt Ltd (now Stercon Realty Pvt Ltd), Beats Event and Advertising Private Limited and Efficacy Interiors Private Limited -- in lieu of case provided by by Sanjay Bhandari to Himanshu Verma through Deepak Agarwal.

* Out of this Rs 39.36 crore, Rs 5.4 crore was transferred to Saran Savdha LLP belonging to Bimal Sareen, Director of Offset India Solutions Private Limited by Greenpower Marketing and Advertisement Ltd of Himanshu Verma during 2015-16.  IANS