Absconding middleman Christian Michel of Agusta-Westland VVIP chopper scam extradited to India from UAE
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New Delhi, December 5: In a complete win-win situation for Narendra Modi led government, the person behind the VVIP Chopper Scam case, Christian Michel has been extradited from UAE and has been brought to India last night. British businessman Christian James Michel, the alleged middleman in the multimillion-dollar AgustaWestland helicopter deal, was taken to CBI headquarters following a medical checkup. Later, he will be produced before a designated CBI court where the investigative body will seek his remand to interrogate him in custody.
The CBI informed that under the guidance of Ajit Doval, National Security Advisor, the entire operation is being coordinated by interim CBI Director M. Nageswara Rao in extraditing the fugitive criminal Christian Michel James who has been avoiding criminal proceedings in India in AgustaWestland case from UAE to India.
Michel's extradition came on a day when External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj held extensive discussions with her UAE counterpart Abdullah bin Zayed in Abu Dhabi.
Taking the absconding middleman Christian Michael under scrutiny will spill secrets of the corrupt dynasty family. Michel would be examined with respect to his involvement in the case and confronted with documents received by the CBI that indicate the bribes he is alleged to have paid. Formal charges will hinge on the outcome of the CBI investigation.
Background:
The AgustaWestland case involves the deal to purchase 12 luxury helicopters for use by the President, Prime Minister, former prime ministers and other VIPs, when Dr Manmohan Singh's Congress-led coalition was in power.
In 2014, the government scrapped the contract amid allegations that AgustaWestland, whose parent company Finmeccanica faced charges of bribery in Italy, had paid kickbacks in India. The Enforcement Directorate has accused Michel of receiving about 225 crore rupees from AgustaWestland as kickbacks. An open non-bailable arrest warrant in September 2015 was issued against him by the special CBI Court.
Michel was arrested by UAE authorities in February last year after CBI and the ED had notified an Interpol red corner notice against him. A charge sheet was filed against him in September last year. He is one of the three middlemen being examined in the case, along with Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa.