School governor jailed for Covid PPE fraud as ringleader dodges sentencing with pacemaker claim

From the Newshound archive · first published 7 October 2026 · last updated 8 October 2026.

Morris and ringleader Jogesh Bhandari, 60, told buyers in the US and Germany they could deliver millions of nitrile gloves, funnelling the victims' payments directly into Bhandari's personal accounts. Bhandari's wife Meenakshi, 58, a former pharmacist, received a two-year suspended sentence alongside a rehabilitation order and 250 hours of unpaid work for her role in laundering the proceeds.

The gang spent those proceeds on Rolexes, an Audi A5, a Land Rover Discovery and a Porsche worth £126,000.

Bhandari failed to appear for his own sentencing, telling the court he was on a 'very extreme painkiller' following pacemaker surgery — the judge found 'no medical evidence' to justify his absence and issued a bench warrant.

Sentencing has been set for 16 October after the judge declined any further delay, warning that 'the case cannot just be put off and put off at Mr Bhandari's will'.