A UK court has sentenced Jogesh Bhandari to eight years in prison for fraudulent PPE deals during the Covid-19 pandemic.
How Did the PPE Fraud Operate?
Jogesh Bhandari, 60, used a company called Banton to arrange fraudulent transactions involving millions of boxes of nitrile gloves that were never delivered. The scheme operated between late 2020 and early 2022, targeting American company Med18 and German firm MedTech.
In one transaction during early 2021, more than $3.18 million (approximately ₹30 Crore) was paid for gloves intended for American hospitals. The order was never fulfilled. Bhandari was convicted at Leicester Crown Court in July of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and concealing and transferring criminal property.
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How Much Money Was Involved?
The court heard that Bhandari retained £1.75 million (approximately ₹22 Crore) through the fraudulent transactions. Prosecutors said he spent £126,000 (approximately ₹1.59 Crore) on a Porsche and also purchased an Audi A5, a Land Rover Discovery, Rolex watches and jewellery using the proceeds. The expenditure formed part of the evidence concerning how money obtained through the fraudulent PPE arrangements was used.
The £126,000 spent on the Porsche was equivalent to approximately ₹1.59 crore. These rupee figures are indicative conversions, not the historical values when the transactions occurred.
What Did the Court Decide?
Sentencing Bhandari at Northampton Crown Court, Judge William Harbage KC described him as the principal figure behind the fraudulent operations. The judge also questioned the sincerity of Bhandari’s expressed remorse, noting that he had strongly contested the charges.
Craig Morris, who assisted with the transactions, received a prison sentence of three years and nine months on October 7. Bhandari’s wife, Meenakashi Bhandari, 58, was convicted of concealing and transferring criminal property. She received a two-year suspended sentence, alongside 250 hours of unpaid work and 15 days of rehabilitation activity.
What Did the Defence Tell the Court?
The defence said Bhandari had experienced damaged family relationships and health difficulties, including a recently fitted pacemaker. His lawyer also told the court that he had attempted suicide following his conviction.
The case concerned fraudulent supply arrangements during a period of urgent international demand for medical protective equipment.The convictions illustrate how fraudulent suppliers exploited pandemic-era demand for protective equipment, collecting substantial payments for medical supplies that were never delivered.
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