[15][16][17] According to allegations by Indian government authorities, Khanna was reportedly a central figure in the defence industry of India.
[26][27][28] He has also held positions in sports administration, including serving as the president of the Professional Golfers Association of India.
[35] He has been a junior champion golfer in India, and has also played golf for Millfield, Pepperdine University and the Indian national men's team.
[39] Khanna was introduced to politics by Sukhbir Singh Badal, and joined the Shiromani Akali Dal in 1997.
[11] Khanna wielded significant influence in the PPCC because of his personal fortune and his relationship with Amarinder Singh, former Chief Minister of Punjab.
[57] Khanna stated that his reasons for leaving politics were to focus on his businesses and spend time with his family.
[59] In 2021, speculation arose in the media that Khanna may be joining the Shiromani Akali Dal and contesting from Sangrur in the 2022 elections.
[3][63] He contested from Sangrur in the 2022 Punjab Legislative Assembly election and lost to Narinder Kaur Bharaj of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
[67] On 14 April 2024, Punjab Police detained 40 farmers that had gathered to protest Khanna's visit to Malerkotla.
[68] In the 2024 Indian general election, Khanna contested, unsuccessfully, from the Sangrur Lok Sabha constituency and lost to Meet Hayer of AAP; however, he gained a considerable increase in his vote share.
[24] Singh, a real estate businessman based in the UK, was a donor to the Conservative Party and was seen with former British prime ministers Theresa May and Boris Johnson.
[24] In 2020, Singh posted a birthday message for Khanna on the social media platform Instagram, referring to Khanna as the capo dei capi (a term which translates to boss of bosses in Italian), however, Singh's lawyers stated that the comment was a private joke between friends.
[91][92] In 2007, Khanna and his family were accused by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of having influenced the deal in favour of IAI, receiving kickbacks from the company, and it was also suspected that companies owned by Khanna and his family had received substantial payments from IAI.
[21] In 2003, Denel, a South African defence and aerospace company, had received an order by the Indian Army to supply 1200 bunker buster anti-material rifles.
[96][97] The CBI suspected Khanna and his family of receiving 12.75% in commissions for securing the contract in Denel's favor, and to influence the Ministry of Defence's Price Negotiation Committee.
[98][99] However, Khanna and his family denied any involvement in the Denel deal, and eventually, the CBI dropped the case due to lack of evidence.
[19] The CBI accused Khanna's company, TSL Defence Technologies, and its employees of influencing the contract selection on behalf of IMI with senior members of the OFB.
[22] In addition to this, the Delhi High Court also levied a fine on the Ministry of Defence for falsely implicating Khanna's company in the case.
[22] From 2012 to 2016, Khanna, through various companies he owned, was a shareholder of Defsys Solutions, a company linked to allegations of corruption related to its influence on and facilitation of India's procurement of 36 Dassault Rafale multirole combat aircraft for the Indian Air Force, a procurement process that lasted from 2012 to 2016.
[12] However, neither Khanna nor any of the other shareholders of Defsys Solutions were investigated in relation to allegations of corruption in the Dassault Rafale procurement.
[26][105] The Umeed Foundation's initiatives are primarily focused on the economic and social empowerment of women, providing health care and employment generation.
[106][107][108] The NGO has also been supported by various organizations that include the Council of People's Action and Rural Technology (CAPART), Medanta, Cipla, Mohandai Oswal Hospital, the Australian High Commission in India and the Government of Japan.
[110] In 2012, the Umeed Foundation participated in the New York International Gift Fair and displayed products made by underprivileged women from rural Punjab under the NGO's social and economic empowerment initiatives.
[111] After restarting its services in 2023, the Umeed Foundation has focused on providing healthcare, employment, and education for underprivileged people in rural Punjab.
[116] Through one of his companies, Khanna also sponsored professional golfer Gaurav Ghei, his friend and playing partner during the 1990s.