NRI Jogesh Bhandari and his wife, UK jails for £1.75m COVID PPE Fraud

Los Angeles/ Oct 21, 2026
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/ A.Gary Singh

NRI Jogesh Bhandari, businessman, has been sentenced to eight years in prison in the United Kingdom for his role in a multimillion-dollar fraud involving personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic. His wife, Meenakashi (Meena) Bhandari, was also convicted of money laundering and received a suspended prison sentence.

Bhandari, 60, from Loughborough, Leicestershire, falsely claimed that his company could supply millions of boxes of nitrile gloves to businesses and healthcare providers in the United States and Germany. The promised supplies were not delivered, and millions of dollars were obtained through fraudulent transactions.

The case was investigated by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA). Bhandari and his associate, Craig Morris, 43, were convicted of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and money laundering following a five-week trial at Leicester Crown Court in July 2026.

Investigators found that money obtained through the scheme was used to fund an expensive lifestyle, including luxury cars, Rolex watches, jewellery, overseas holidays and home renovations. Bhandari reportedly spent £126,000 on a Porsche, while the proceeds were also used to pay personal and family debts.

The court heard that Bhandari retained approximately £1.75 million from the fraud, while his wife was found to have laundered around £960,000. Meena Bhandari, 58, received a two-year prison sentence suspended for two years, along with 250 hours of unpaid work and 15 days of rehabilitation activity. Morris was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison.

Bhandari initially failed to attend his sentencing hearing, citing health concerns following the fitting of a pacemaker. A judge ordered a warrant for his arrest, and he was subsequently sentenced to eight years in prison.

The NCA said the defendants exploited the urgent global demand for protective equipment during the pandemic, targeting legitimate businesses at a time when healthcare providers urgently needed supplies.

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