The Delhi High Court has ruled to release British arms consultant Christian Michel on bail after an extended period without trial concerning alleged bribery in the AgustaWestland helicopter contract scandal.
Indian Court Grants Bail to British Extraditee After Years in Custody
Indian Court Grants Bail to British Extraditee After Years in Custody
Christian Michel, held for six years in India without trial, is released on bail amidst corruption allegations linked to a controversial helicopter deal.
Christian James Michel, a British arms consultant, has been granted bail by the Delhi High Court after spending six years in custody without trial. He was extradited from the United Arab Emirates in 2018 and faced accusations of bribing Indian officials to secure a lucrative helicopter contract with the British-Italian defense firm AgustaWestland. Michel, who denies any wrongdoing, found himself in an "exceptional" legal predicament as the allegations stemmed from a high-profile corruption case connected to India's former ruling Congress party.
The controversial deal, agreed upon in 2010, involved the procurement of twelve AW-101 helicopters designed for VIP transport within India’s Air Force. Investigations into the transaction revealed potential irregularities that suggested the Indian government may have overpaid significantly. According to court filings, Michel allegedly received approximately €42 million (around $44.7 million) in connection with securing the contract.
Despite the ongoing investigation by India's financial crime agencies, no trial has commenced, prompting the court to label Michel's prolonged detention as alarming. In light of the Supreme Court's earlier decision to grant bail in a related case, the Delhi High Court decided to release him from the Tihar jail, though he remains restricted from leaving India due to the seizure of his passport.
The AgustaWestland case has been marred by controversy, leading to trials and acquittals of key executives in Italy. Despite claims from Indian officials that Italian acquittals will hold no impact on Indian proceedings, many details of the case remain unresolved. As this legal saga continues, Michel's release brings a significant development in the saga surrounding one of India’s most notorious corruption scandals.
