Arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi dies in London

Once reputed to be one of the richest men in the world, Khashoggi was known in India for his proximity to a group of politicians, political aides and businessmen in the 1980s and 1990s.

Adnan Khashoggi, the international arms dealer who had close links with leading lights of India’s political establishment in the 1980s and 1990s, died in the St Thomas Hospital here on Tuesday aged 81.

File photo of Adnan Khashoggi in 2008. (Getty Images)

A Saudi national, Khashoggi’s passing away was announced by his family to the media through his friend and biographer, Roberto Tumbarello.

A statement released by his family said: “It is with deep sadness that the Khashoggi family must announce that our beloved father Adnan Khashoggi, aged 82, died peacefully today in London while being treated for Parkinson’s Disease

“He lived his last days surrounded by his devoted family, children and grandchildren, with the same elegance, strength and dignity that characterised his remarkable life.

“He is survived by his wife Lamia.”

Once reputed to be one of the richest men in the world, Khashoggi was known in India for his proximity to a group of politicians, political aides and businessmen that included controversial godman Chandraswamy, who died on May 23.

Khashoggi’s most recent link with India was the 2011 arrest of businessman Hasan Ali Khan by the enforcement directorate in an alleged money-laundering case. Khan had reportedly admitted knowing Khashoggi, which brought him into news after years in India.