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The Delhi High Court today issued notice in fresh bail applications of Christian Michel accused in the Augusta Westland VVIP Chopper scam.

The single Judge bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri was hearing bail applications of Michel in both the CBI and ED case registered against him in the VVIP chopper scam.

Advocate Aljo Joseph appearing for Michel argued that the allegations against all the accused in the scam was that the altitude of the helicopters was reduced. He submitted that while all the other accused had been granted bail, he is languishing in jail for the past 2 years and 8 months.

Jospeh further submitted that during the pendency of the bail applications earlier before the Court, the United Nations had catgorically found that Michel's detention in India was illegal and in serious violations of the International Human Rights.

He further submitted that neither ED nor the CBI had filed their responses with regarding to the above finding of the United Nations.

Last month, Special CBI Judge Arvind Kumar had dismissed bail application of Michel stating "No case is made out for grant of bail on medical ground".

Michel had argued in his bail application that his detention, deportation, and custody in India was in contravention of the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and that he was already acquitted by courts in Italy on similar charges.

The Court however rejecting Michel's bail plea said "considering the overall facts and circumstances, serious nature of accusations, gravity of offence and aforesaid conduct of the accused, I do not consider it to be a fit case for grant of bail. Application for bail filed by accused is, thus, dismissed."
 

Michel has been said to be the alleged middleman in the chopper deal for facilitating the chopper deal through his companies. He was extradited from UAE to India in 2018. 

Michel was sent to the custody of both the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate, and after serving for a few days, he was sent to judicial custody on January 5, 2019.

Michel continues to  languish in Tihar jail after  both the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court dismissed his bail petition. 

The bench has sought response form the ED and CBI and listed the matter for next hearing on September 21.

 

Case Title: Christian Michel James vs Enforcement Directorate/ Christian Michel James vs Central Bureau of Investigation