Minister's OSD dragged into row involving Arms Bhandari

A top aide to Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju was today dragged into the controversy involving arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari, with allegation that he made 355 calls to the official who denied any wrongdoing and insisted that the relationship was only "professional".
The probe by investigative agencies is said to have found that Bhandari was constantly in touch with Raju's Officer on Special Duty Appa Rao.
The agencies claim that Bhandari, who is being probed for allegedly buying a becnami or proxy-owned house for Robert Vadra in London, made some 355 calls to Rao in over one year time.

"First of all so many calls would not have been there, I I tell you. It was a professional relationship..He (Bhandari) came to meet the minister 3-4 times, in the last one-and-a-half year. ..It was only a professional relation.
"We got an acquaintance for the first time at the Bangalore Air show. He (Bhandari) had invited the minister to see his stall. Minister went and saw it. I don't have any personal relationship," Rao told a private TV channel.
The Enforcement Directorate earlier in the day served Bhandari notice seeking bank accounts and details of his properties.
The ED action has come even as the Income Tax has sought information from some countries about the properties purchased by him, one of which is said to have been owned and later sold by Robert Vadra in London allegedly facilitated by Bhandari.