VVIP chopper case: Tihar image gives country a bad name, says Delhi court
'A bad name to the country is given by the jail. Look at the media image of Tihar jail…threats of extortion from jail officials…,' said Special Judge Sanjeev Aggarwal while considering the application moved by Christian Michel James, one of the alleged middlemen in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case who was extradited from the UAE in 2018.
The court had last Wednesday directed Tihar Jail authorities to appear in person after James, in his application, has claimed that he was lodged with a prisoner with a checkered record inside jail. In his application, James had also requested adequate security measures in jail and alleged threats to his life and attempts to poison him in jail. Tihar authorities on Thursday said the British national was never kept with another person in a single cell.
Tihar authorities said: 'Prisoners are lodged in barracks or cells as per the security assessment and availability of space. Nothing adverse has been reported by accused Christian Michel James during his lodgment in jail no. 1 or in jail no. 4 where he is presently lodged.'
On James's fellow prisoner Shahnawaz, authorities stated that he had '41 punishments' against him for his conduct in jail after 2020 for 'disorderly behaviour' and 'prohibited articles'. 'You can't keep hardened criminals with him (James) …is it safe to keep James who has only a money laundering case with such a person. Won't that cause a threat to his life?' the Judge said.
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