VVIP Chopper Scam: Supreme Court to Hear Bail Plea of Middleman Christian Michel Today

The Supreme Court on  December 2 will hear the bail pleas of Christian Michel James the alleged middleman in the Augusta Westland chopper scam. Michel has challenged the Delhi High Court order dated March 11 by which his bail plea was dismissed.

Earlier in May this year, the apex court had sought response from CBI and the ED on his bail pleas.

In August ED had filed its reply stated that Michel not being a citizen of India. His extradition has been obtained with extreme difficulties and procedural impediments. The Enforcement Directorate apprehends that if he is enlarged on bail, he might flee to avoid the investigation.

“Michel has committed a grave economic offence of huge magnitude and has thereafter laundered the proceeds of crime,” ED said

During the previous hearing, the counsel for the accused had submitted that the case falls under Section 436A of the CrPC.
The counsel had said that Michel’s contention is that under sections 8 and 9 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, the maximum punishment is five years and he has already served about four years.

Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the probe agencies, had submitted that it was with great difficulty that the probe agency got his custody and section 436A would not apply to the ED proceedings. He said that Michel is a resident of Britain and he was extradited from Dubai.

The CBI, in its charge sheet, has alleged an estimated loss of 398.21 million euros (about Rs 2,666 crore) to the exchequer due to the deal that was signed on February 8, 2010, for the supply of VVIP choppers worth 556.262 million euros.

The ED, in its charge sheet filed against Michel in June 2016, had alleged that he had received 30 million euros (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland.