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Delhi High Court Orders Release of British Man Detained Over Corruption Case
A British man who has spent six years in detention in India without trial must be granted bail, the Delhi High Court has decreed. Christian James Michel, an arms consultant, faces allegations of bribing Indian officials to secure a lucrative helicopter contract on behalf of the British-Italian defense firm AgustaWestland, charges which he vehemently denies.
Michel was extradited to India from the United Arab Emirates in 2018. Since then, his detention has been described as “exceptional” by a presiding judge, raising concerns about the prolonged nature of his incarceration.
The AgustaWestland scandal is part of a broader series of corruption cases associated with India’s former ruling Congress party, several of which have ultimately lost momentum over the years.
In 2010, the Indian government formalized a contract with AgustaWestland’s parent company, valued at approximately $753 million (£455 million), to purchase 12 helicopters. The deal was later annulled in 2014 when the Indian federal auditor revealed potential gross overpayment by the government.
According to court records, Michel allegedly received around €42 million ($44.7 million, £25 million) in connection with the deal. His legal representation argues that there is insufficient evidence linking him directly to the alleged criminal activities.
Both India’s financial crime agency and its domestic crime bureau have been conducting independent investigations into Michel’s case; however, the lack of progress in these inquiries has contributed to his extended custody, as highlighted by the Delhi High Court.
The judge pointed out that Michel’s six years in pre-trial detention is alarmingly near the maximum penalty of seven years for money laundering, one of the charges against him.
Following a recent Supreme Court ruling that allowed bail in a different case involving Michel, the High Court decided to extend the same leniency in his situation. He is now permitted to leave the high-security Tihar jail in Delhi but will remain in India since his passport has been confiscated.
The helicopters, designed for an elite squadron within the Indian air force tasked with transporting high-profile individuals, were initially intended to replace an older fleet. Out of the 12 helicopters planned for delivery, only three were actually received before the contract was terminated due to rising allegations of misconduct.
Investigations also revealed suspicions of kickbacks totaling nearly $67.6 million being funneled to Indian officials to facilitate the contract, raising questions about the procurement practices of defense contracts in India.
In Italy, former executives from AgustaWestland’s parent company, previously known as Finmeccanica, faced trial for fraud and corruption. Both were acquitted in 2018, yet Indian authorities contend that their acquittals will not influence the ongoing proceedings in India.
The convictions within the Indian military leadership also came to light when the air force chief at the time of the helicopter contract was arrested on bribery charges in 2016, although he was subsequently released on bail.
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