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AgustaWestland scam accused middleman Michel Christian at CBI headquarters in New Delhi, on early Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018.
| Photo Credit: AP
The Supreme Court on Friday (December 6, 2024) agreed to examine a plea for regular bail filed by Christian Michel James, the alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland chopper scam.
A Bench of Vikram Nath and P.B. Varale issued notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation returnable in four weeks.
The court had refused Michel relief in February last year, advising him to approach the trial court for regular bail.
On Friday, Justice Nath asked Michel’s counsel, advocate Aljo Joseph, how the Bench could give any relief to his client when his earlier pleas had been denied.
Mr. Joseph said Michel had already spent six years behind bars and was suffering from heath issues.
The court assured Mr. Joseph that the case would come up in January.
In 2023, the apex court had take note that besides offences like cheating, dishonestly inducing delivery of property, criminal conspiracy and corruption, Michel was also alleged to have committed the offence of forging valuable security, which had a maximum punishment of life imprisonment under Section 467 of the Indian Penal Code.
Michel was arrested and extradited on December 4, 2018. The FIR itself dates back to 2013 and the investigation has continued for nine years. The incidents of the alleged scam relates to 2004.
The ₹3,600-crore alleged scam relates to the purchase of 12 VVIP helicopters from AgustaWestland.
Michel was said to be a resident of the United Kingdom and was extradited from Dubai.
The CBI, in its charge sheet, has alleged an estimated loss of 398.21 million euros (about ₹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 ₹225 crore) from AgustaWestland. Eom
Published – December 06, 2024 12:36 pm IST
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