AgustaWestland case: Supreme Court grants bail to Christian Michel in CBI case

Christian Michel is a British citizen

The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted bail to alleged middleman Christian Michel James, who spent six years in custody, in the purported Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland case of the CBI.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta observed James was in custody for the past six years while the investigation in the matter was still underway.

Justice Mehta questioned the CBI counsel over delay in trial. "The way you are going on right now], you will not be able to conclude trial in 25 years," LiveLaw quoted him as saying.

The top court said James would be released on bail, subject to terms and conditions decided by the trial court.

The alleged scam relates to the purchase of 12 VVIP helicopters from chopper design and manufacturing company AgustaWestland.

James moved the apex court challenging the Delhi High Court's September 25, 2024 order refusing him bail in the case.

James, a British national, was extradited from Dubai in December, 2018, and was subsequently arrested.

What is the VVIP chopper case?

The Rs 3,600-crore alleged scam relates to the kickbacks in purchase of 12 VVIP helicopters from AgustaWestland.

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 12 VVIP helicopters worth 556.262 million euros (around Rs 3,600 crore).

Who Is Christian Michel?

James, a British national, was an established arms dealer who allegedly helped AgustaWestland to bag the February 2010 deal for 12 AW101 choppers meant for VVIP use, by influencing top Indian Air Force (IAF) officials and then-UPA government. He was arrested and extradited from Dubai on December 4, 2018.

He was also charged with other offences like cheating, dishonestly inducing delivery of property, criminal conspiracy and more. He moved the apex court challenging the Delhi High Court’s September 25, 2024 order refusing him bail in the case.

After his arrest, James made a bombshell allegation, saying that the CBI had pressured him to sign a confession that he met former Congress President Sonia Gandhi when the deal was being negotiated in 2010, which he refused to do. The CBI denied the allegations.