AgustaWestland helicopter scam: SC fixes Christian Michel’s bail hearing on February 18
The Hindu
Supreme Court to examine bail plea of AgustaWestland scam middleman Christian Michel James on February 18, 2025.
The Supreme Court on Monday (January 20, 2025) agreed to examine a plea for regular bail filed by Christian Michel James, the alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland helicopter scam, on February 18.
Appearing before a Bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath, advocates Aljo Joseph, Sriram Parakkat and M.S. Vishnu Shankar said their client has been in custody as an undertrial without bail for almost the period he would have served had he been found guilty under the law and sentenced to imprisonment.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said the investigation was complete. The court gave the Central agency three weeks, and no more, to file its counter affidavit.
In 2023, the apex court had noted that besides several offences, including cheating, dishonestly inducing delivery of property, criminal conspiracy, and corruption, Michel was also alleged to have committed the offence of forging valuable security.
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 relate 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.
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