Christian Michel

A Delhi court on Tuesday dismissed the bail application of alleged middleman Christian Michel in a corruption case related to alleged AgustaWestland scam considering the serious nature of accusations and gravity of offence. Special Judge Arvind Kumar dismissed the application moved by Michel, claiming parity with other accused in the case. The judge also said the accused was a British National having no roots in India and, therefore, a flight risk. He said Michel cannot claim parity with other accused" in view of his conduct. The judge dismissed the contention of the accused that on the same set of charges a trial was conducted against him in Italy and the Italian court acquitted him of the same allegations, noting the judgment of the court there was in respect of other accused persons and on different issues like international bribery and tax fraud committed in 2009-2010. The judge said in the present case the accused is facing criminal proceedings for corruption, cheating and .

The Delhi High Court on Friday turned down the bail applications filed by Christian James Michel, the alleged middleman in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam.

India also made it clear that the Working Group is not a judicial body, and therefore, its opinions are not legally binding on the member states

In the last five years, India managed to bring only about 20 fugitive offenders including AgustaWestland deal middleman Christian Michel James

It has also asked the Narendra Modi government to immediately release him and provide an enforceable right to compensation in acc­o­rdance with international law.

When Shashi Kant Sharma was appointed CAG in 2013, BJP had noted that he would be handling an audit into his own role in the AgustaWestland chopper deal - a classic case of conflict of interest

Michel was extradited from Dubai in 2018 and is currently lodged in Tihar Jail in connection with alleged irregularities in the chopper deal

Michel had moved the court seeking inquiry to be conducted into the entry of agency officials into the jail without seeking prior permission from the court

On January 5, Michel was sent to judicial custody in the ED case

Michel, who is in judicial custody since January 5 this year and has been denied relief in both matters by the trial court, moved the high court against the lower court's decision

Michel, extradited from Dubai, was arrested by ED on December 22 last year

It would be despicable if Christian Michel's extradition was part of a deal linked with the capture of Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum

"Aljo K Joseph appeared in his personal capacity. He did not consult the Youth Congress before appearing in the case"

In a decision dated September 2, the Dubai Court of Appeals had ruled that he can be extradited to the authorities concerned in India