AgustaWestland: Christian Michel James gets bail in money laundering case, to remain in CBI custody

New Delhi: A Delhi Court ordered the release of Christian James Michel in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam. He will, however, continue to remain in jail as he as accused in a separate corruption case filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Hearing the case in which he was seeking bail, Special CBI judge Sanjay Jindal noted that Michel is an accused in the case under the provisions of the Money Laundering Act. Under the act, the accused is punishable upto seven years imprisonment. In this case, Michel has already served seven years in jail.

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What the court said

"In view of the mandatory provisions of the second proviso to Section 436A CrPC, the said accused is entitled to be released accordingly and he cannot be detained in this case beyond December 21, 2025," the court said.

Michel was extradited in 2018

Notably, Michel, an accused in the defence deal, was extradited from Dubai in December 2018. Soon after landing in India, he was arrested by the CBI, upon which a chargesheet was filed against him. He was also arrested by the Enforcement Directorate and charged in a related money laundering probe.

"By virtue of the second proviso to Section 436A of the Code of Criminal Procedure (maximum period for which an under-trial prisoner can be detained) with all necessary implications as per law. He will be released from jail if not required in any other case," the court added further.

Michel an accused in two cases

He has been an accused in the two cases filed by both agencies. He had earlier filed applications seeking custodial release in both these cases. He has also given in writing to the court that he would participate in the remaining trial.

The AgustaWestland case is related to alleged irregularities and kickbacks paid, reportedly to former defence ministry officials, to get a contract for 12 VVIP helicopters from the British-Italian company.