New Delhi: Sanjay Bhandari not only bought tickets for Robert Vadra to travel to Zurich and Geneva but also funded purchase of his properties in London and India, alleged BJP MP from Godda, Nishikant Dubey, during Zero Hour of the Parliament Wednesday.
Claiming massive corruption in the 2009 Pilatus basic trainer aircraft deal for the IAF, Dubey urged the government to “disclose” if a property that was bought by Bhandari’s firm in London’s 12 Bryanston Square belongs to “national son-in-law” Vadra.
Bhandari, who is said to have links with Vadra — Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s brother-in-law — was an agent of Switzerland-based company Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.
“I want to know how Bhandari is connected to flat number 42 in Upper Street London, a property in Grosvenor Street? Also, who owns the four flats in DLF Magnolia?” asked three-time MP Dubey, in the Lok Sabha.
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Bhandari-Vadra link
Bhandari was allegedly involved in the Pilatus defence deal during the UPA regime and it has been suspected that the money received by him as kickbacks was routed through shell companies to buy benami properties in London.
Dubey requested the government to look into the case and lodge an FIR immediately. He also said that the UPA government had changed norms in the offset clause in 2005 to benefit Bhandari.
“I would like to draw attention of the Lok Sabha to an FIR filed by CBI in the case. The Pilatus had signed an agreement with Bhandari’s Offset India Solutions Limited in 2008 and the firm began receiving money in 2009,” Dubey said.
This money, he added, was used by one of Bhandari’s companies to buy a flat in London that was subsequently bought by Skylight Hospitality Pvt Ltd in 2010, a firm that is allegedly linked to Vadra.
“I urge the government to reveal if the London property belongs to Vadra,” he further said.
CBI FIR
The CBI had on 22 June registered an FIR against Bhandari, Pilatus Aircraft Ltd and other unknown officials of the IAF and defence ministry in connection with the alleged corruption in the Rs 2,895 crore deal to purchase 75 Pilatus basic trainer aircraft.
Dubey alleged that the aircraft deal had gone ahead despite former defence minister Manohar Parrikar’s objection to it in 2016.
In February, ThePrint reported that the Comptroller & Auditor General had flagged the 75 Pilatus PC-7 Mk-I basic trainer aircraft from Switzerland that was signed in 2012 – citing incorrect price calculations to favour Bhandari’s firm.
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