Sudhir Choudhrie is an international businessman born in India and living in London who was booked by the CBI extension for alleged corruption in the acquisition of Hawk 115 Advanced Jet Trainer Aircraft in 2004. He is accused of conspiring with Rolls-Royce, its former Indian director Tim Jones, British Aerospace Systems (BAE Systems) and unknown public officials to deceive the Indian government and receive kickbacks, commissions, and kickbacks.
The CBI FIR also said £100m had been paid by Russian arms companies into a Swiss bank account (no 120467) in the name of Portsmouth, a firm associated with Sudhir Choudhrie on defense deals with Russia for the purchase of MIG fighter aircraft.
The CBI FIR also said £100m had been paid by Russian arms companies into a Swiss bank account (no 120467) in the name of Portsmouth, a firm associated with Sudhir Choudhrie on defense deals with Russia for the purchase of MIG fighter aircraft.
- Choudhrie was born in Delhi, India in 1949. He studied economics at Delhi University and then worked as a businessman in India. In the 1980s he moved to the UK and set up a variety of businesses including a property company and a healthcare business. He also got involved in politics and donated money to the Labor Party.
- In the 1990s, Choudhrie began getting involved in defense deals. He was involved in the supply deal
Falcon fighter aircraft in India, and was also involved in a deal to supply artillery guns to theIndian Army . These deals were controversial, and there were allegations that Choudhrie paid bribes to Indian officials to secure them. - In 2006, the CBI raided Choudhrie’s offices in India. The CBI was investigating allegations of corruption in the Hawk fighter deal. Choudhrie was not arrested, but was questioned by the CBI.
- In 2011, the SFO opened an investigation into Choudhrie. The SFO was investigating allegations that Choudhrie had paid bribes to Indian officials to secure the artillery arms deal. Choudhrie was arrested in London in 2014 but was released on bail. The SFO investigation is still ongoing.
- Sudhir Choudhrie has a son named Bhanu Choudhrie who is also an arms dealer and was engaged by the CBI along with his father in the same case. Sudhir Choudhrie has addressed previous investigations by the CBI and the
Execution Directorate in other defense agreements, such as the Soltam agreement to upgrade 130mm field guns and the Barak missile agreement. - Choudhrie has denied all allegations of corruption. He said he was a legitimate businessman and had never paid bribes to anyone.
Other business interests of Sudhir Choudhrie
Health care: He is the founder of Alpha C&C Group, a healthcare, aviation and hospitality investment holding company. He also founded Alpha Hospitals, a chain of mental health facilities in the UK.
Aviation: Has been involved in the aviation industry since the 1990s. He was also a director of Deccan Aviation Ltd and Kingfisher Airlines.
