Delhi High Court has reserved its order on Christian Michel’s request to ease bail conditions in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland money laundering case. Michel appeared via video call from Tihar Jail.
New Delhi: On May 7 – The Delhi High Court on Wednesday reserved its decision on a request made by Christian Michel James, who is accused of being a middleman in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland money laundering case. He had asked the court to change certain conditions of his bail.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma listened to arguments from both Michel’s lawyer and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the agency investigating the case.
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After hearing both sides, the judge said that she would give a detailed order soon.
Christian Michel joined the court proceedings through video-conferencing from Tihar Jail.
During the hearing, his lawyer confirmed to the court that the request to modify the bail terms had indeed been filed on his behalf.
The case involves allegations of money laundering in the purchase of AgustaWestland helicopters, a deal worth Rs 3,600 crore.
Michel has been accused of acting as a middleman and playing a key role in transferring kickbacks to Indian officials to influence the deal.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma stated that she would carefully examine all the facts presented and issue a detailed written order after considering the arguments made by both sides.
“Michel, who joined the proceedings from Tihar Jail through video-conferencing, confirmed filing the plea through his lawyer.”
The Enforcement Directorate has strongly opposed any changes to Michel’s bail conditions, saying that he is an important figure in a high-profile money laundering case, and any relaxation in his bail terms might affect the ongoing investigation.
As of now, the High Court has not specified a date for when the order will be announced.
However, the matter is being treated with importance due to the serious nature of the charges and the high value involved in the case.
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This development is a part of the long legal process in the AgustaWestland scam, which has drawn national attention due to the alleged involvement of several high-ranking officials and the misuse of public funds.
The court’s upcoming decision will be significant in determining how bail conditions can be modified in cases related to economic offences and international middlemen.
Case Title:
Christian Michel James v. ED
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