AgustaWestland Case: Delhi High Court Denies Bail To Christian Michel In CBI FIR

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed the bail application filed by British Arms Counsultant Christian James Michel in the case registered by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the Agusta Westland chopper scam case. 

Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma rejected Michel's bail plea in CBI case and listed his plea seeking bail in the money laundering case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for hearing on November 18.

Michel was denied bail in the CBI and ED cases in relation to the alleged scam by a coordinate bench in 2022.

Later, in February last year, the Supreme Court dismissed his SLP against dismissal of his bail pleas while giving him liberty to approach the Trial Court to seek regular bail. The trial court had also rejected his regular bail pleas.

Earlier this year, the trial court had dismissed Michel's plea seeking his release from custody in the case.

In March, the Supreme Court refused to entertain his plea filed under Article 32 of Constitution of India, observing that the doctrine of speciality plea raised by him had been sufficiently dealt with in the previous order of the court declining his bail application under Section 436A of CrPC.  

Michel was arrested in December 2018 after being extradited from Dubai. He is termed as a 'Middleman' for the alleged illegal transactions that took place in the VVIP chopper scam.

The CBI had alleged that there was an estimated loss of Euro 398.21 million (about 2666 Crore) to the exchequer in the deal that was signed on February 8, 2010 for the supply of VVIP choppers worth Euro 556.262 million.

ED had then filed a chargesheet against Michel in June, 2016, alleging that he had received EUR 30 million (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland.

Case Title: Christian Michel James v. CBI

Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Del) 1057