New Delhi, Feb 18 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted bail to British arms consultant, Christian James Michel, in the case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the AgustaWestland chopper scam.
Michel had filed a Special Leave Petition challenging the Delhi High Court’s September 25, 2024, order that denied him bail.
A bench, comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, granted bail on the condition that Michel must renew his passport and subsequently surrender it.
During the hearing, the matter was initially taken up in the morning but was deferred as the CBI’s counsel sought additional time.
When the Court expressed its inclination to grant bail, the CBI contended that Michel’s plea was based on medical grounds. The Court postponed the hearing until after lunch, at which point it questioned the prolonged delay in trial proceedings.
Justice Nath asked the CBI counsel, “Why do you want him in custody after six years? You have filed a chargesheet, and the investigation is complete.”
The central agency responded that Michel was extradited to India, to which Justice Nath remarked, “What about the trial? You haven’t even started the trial.”
Justice Mehta further stated, “It is your duty as the prosecutor. Who stopped you for the past six years?”
Michel’s counsel, Advocate Aljo K Joseph, argued that the investigation was still incomplete and that the authorities continued to rely on international documents while placing the burden of delay on the accused.
The CBI requested the matter be heard on Friday to seek instructions on the status of the investigation and whether it intended to continue. However, the Court clarified that Michel would be granted bail, and the CBI could proceed with its investigation independently.
Justice Mehta observed, “At this rate, you won’t be able to conclude the trial even in the next 25 years.”
In its order, the Court noted, “Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, particularly that the
petitioner was extradited in 2018 and has been in custody for more than six years, and that the CBI has filed three chargesheets and two supplementary chargesheets while the investigation remains ongoing, we are inclined to grant bail on conditions determined by the trial court. The CBI may request the trial court to impose necessary conditions before his release.”
Michel was arrested in December 2018 following his extradition from Dubai. He is accused of acting as a middleman in alleged illegal transactions related to the VVIP chopper scam.
The CBI has alleged that the deal, signed on February eight, 2010, for the procurement of VVIP helicopters worth €556.262 million, caused an estimated loss of €398.21 million (approximately Rs 2,666 crore) to the Indian exchequer.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had filed a chargesheet against Michel in June 2016, alleging that he received €30 million (around Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland.
Advocates Sreeram Parakkat and M S Vishnu Shankar also represented the petitioner in the case.
