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| Sudhir Choudhrie: arms dealer, philanthropist – and Lib Dem donor | Sudhir Choudhrie: arms dealer, philanthropist – and Lib Dem donor |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Connections and discretion are the name of the game in the international arms trade. Sudhir Choudhrie, who controls a defence and healthcare business from London, is on first name terms with senior politicians across the world and is one of the Liberal Democrats' biggest donors. | Connections and discretion are the name of the game in the international arms trade. Sudhir Choudhrie, who controls a defence and healthcare business from London, is on first name terms with senior politicians across the world and is one of the Liberal Democrats' biggest donors. |
| Known as Bunny to his friends, Choudhrie, who is in his 70s, is believed to have moved to London from India in 2002 and lives with his wife in a £5m flat in Chelsea. In recent years, he has made a concerted effort to raise his profile. | Known as Bunny to his friends, Choudhrie, who is in his 70s, is believed to have moved to London from India in 2002 and lives with his wife in a £5m flat in Chelsea. In recent years, he has made a concerted effort to raise his profile. |
| His C&C Alpha Group business [see footnote] turned over £89m in the year to April 2013, employs more than 1,300 staff, has hospitals and care homes among its assets and has donated about £500,000 to the Lib Dems since 2010. Choudhrie was placed on the party's internal list for future peers last year. | His C&C Alpha Group business [see footnote] turned over £89m in the year to April 2013, employs more than 1,300 staff, has hospitals and care homes among its assets and has donated about £500,000 to the Lib Dems since 2010. Choudhrie was placed on the party's internal list for future peers last year. |
| But he dropped off the list in the summer after inspectors at the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found one of the C&C hospitals failed to meet eight out of nine care standards. | But he dropped off the list in the summer after inspectors at the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found one of the C&C hospitals failed to meet eight out of nine care standards. |
| Among the long list of serious concerns, the inspectors recorded that "one female adolescent patient had been restrained by nine members of staff" because she refused to remove her underwear at the Alpha Hospital in Woking. | Among the long list of serious concerns, the inspectors recorded that "one female adolescent patient had been restrained by nine members of staff" because she refused to remove her underwear at the Alpha Hospital in Woking. |
| Choudhrie was Latvia's honorary consul general in India, a position that provided diplomatic immunity. | Choudhrie was Latvia's honorary consul general in India, a position that provided diplomatic immunity. |
| Hospitals are just one part of the family business, which is now run by Choudhrie's son Bhanu. The family also makes money from arms deals. He has been involved in many of India's biggest defence transactions. | Hospitals are just one part of the family business, which is now run by Choudhrie's son Bhanu. The family also makes money from arms deals. He has been involved in many of India's biggest defence transactions. |
| Choudhrie's Indian home was raided eight years ago by police investigating claims that he was paid about $150,000 (£90,000) commission as part of a deal to buy guns from Israeli company Soltam. His company was also caught up in the Indian police investigation of corruption in the country's purchase of Israeli Barak missiles in 2006. No charges were brought against Choudhrie or his company in either case. | |
| His arms deals are not so prominent on his website, set up to promote his philanthropic activities. "Despite being a man who is busy beyond belief, Mr Sudhir Choudhrie firmly believes in giving back to the community through his charity 'Path to Success', where he acts as director and helps out in the day-to-day management," it says. | His arms deals are not so prominent on his website, set up to promote his philanthropic activities. "Despite being a man who is busy beyond belief, Mr Sudhir Choudhrie firmly believes in giving back to the community through his charity 'Path to Success', where he acts as director and helps out in the day-to-day management," it says. |
| Last year Theresa May, the home secretary, honoured Choudhrie with a lifetime achievement award at the Asian Business Awards. He is also an (honorary) Radcliffe fellow of Green Templeton College, Oxford. | Last year Theresa May, the home secretary, honoured Choudhrie with a lifetime achievement award at the Asian Business Awards. He is also an (honorary) Radcliffe fellow of Green Templeton College, Oxford. |
| Bhanu, is a director of Commonwealth Games England alongside Dame Kelly Holmes, former England international netballer Karen Atkinson and co-founder of Carphone Warehouse and British Olympic Association non-executive director David Ross. Together, they are fundraising for the England team for this summer's games in Glasgow. | Bhanu, is a director of Commonwealth Games England alongside Dame Kelly Holmes, former England international netballer Karen Atkinson and co-founder of Carphone Warehouse and British Olympic Association non-executive director David Ross. Together, they are fundraising for the England team for this summer's games in Glasgow. |
| A Choudhrie family spokesman said Bhanu had taken criticisms from the CQC seriously and had worked to rectify any problems identified. He has been registered as a director for the Games on Companies House records under the spelling "Choudrie" instead of Choudhrie". | A Choudhrie family spokesman said Bhanu had taken criticisms from the CQC seriously and had worked to rectify any problems identified. He has been registered as a director for the Games on Companies House records under the spelling "Choudrie" instead of Choudhrie". |
| • While Mr Sudhir Choudhrie is acknowledged as the head of the family, he ceased to be a director of any of the Group's companies in 2007. | • While Mr Sudhir Choudhrie is acknowledged as the head of the family, he ceased to be a director of any of the Group's companies in 2007. |