The Patiala House Court on Wednesday sought a detailed reply from Tihar Jail authorities on a plea filed by AgustaWestland deal accused middlemen Christian Michel raising questions about putting him in solitary confinement.
During the course of the hearing, Michel's counsel contended that for the last four days, Michel was being made to stay with dreaded criminals like Chhota Rajan.
Michel's counsel Alio K Joseph told the court, "Jail authorities are alleging that he is using laptop inside the jail but when searches were made nothing was found. These are pressure tactics."
A junior jail official who was present in the court denied the allegations made by Joseph but failed to answer the question put before him during the hearing.
Special CBI Judge Arvind Kumar directed the Jail Superintendent or a competent authority to be present before it on the next hearing and file a detailed report in the same. He then posted the matter for hearing on Thursday (February 28).
On Monday, the court approved Michel's application to seek a meeting with his counsel for the handover of summer clothes. It also directed the Tihar Jail authorities to facilitate for the same as per the jail manual.
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On February 16, the Patiala House Court had dismissed the bail plea filed by him. Special CBI Judge Arvind Kumar had contended that the court found no strong ground to grant him bail in this case.
In its reply to the bail plea filed by Michel, the Central Bureau of Investigation had said, " This court has taken cognizance of both ED and CBI chargesheet. Once the cognizance has taken then accused cannot ask for statutory bail."
It was stated before Delhi's Patiala House Court that since the chargesheet was not filed against Michel within the stipulated 60-day period under Section 167(2), there is no basis keeping him in judicial custody
Michel who was extradited from the UAE in December last year is currently lodged in national capital's Tihar Jail in connection with the CBI and ED case against him related to the AgustaWestland deal.