Accused middleman in AgustaWestland chopper deal scam has already spent nearly four years as undertrial
The Supreme Court on May 18 asked the Central Bureau of Investigation [CBI] and the Enforcement Directorate [ED] to respond to a plea for bail made by Christian Michel, an alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter deal scam.
A Bench led by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud remarked that Mr. Michel has already spent nearly four years behind bars as an undertrial while issuing notice to CBI and the ED. The court scheduled the next hearing in mid-July, post the summer vacation.
"I have undergone the maximum sentence as per the provisions. The investigation is still not complete. I have undergone three years and six months as of now and I was in custody in Dubai before my extradition," Mr. Michel, represented by advocates Aljo Joseph, Sriram Parakkat and M.S. Vishnu Shankar, said.
The lawyers argued that their client was a businessman with networks spread across the globe and it was important for him to prove his innocence.
"He has fully cooperated with the investigation. He had met with CBI officials in Dubai multiple times. He had written letters to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, extending his cooperation in the investigation in the year 2016 and also expressing his willingness to come to India for investigation. Only request made by him was that he may be granted bail," Mr. Michel's plea said.
Read More : https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/agustawestland-vvip-chopper-scam-sc-asks-cbi-ed-to-respond-to-christian-michel-bail-plea/article65426118.ece
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