Latest news with #AgustaWestland
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Christian Michel's children write to PM Modi asking for release of their father
Christian Michel James LONDON: The three children of AugustaWestland helicopter scam accused Christian Michel , a British national incarcerated in India as an undertrial for seven years, have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi pleading for his unconditional discharge. Modi left Wednesday for London where he is expected to sign a free trade pact on Thursday. Michel has been in Tihar jail since Dec 2018 when he was extradited to India from Dubai. In a letter to PM Modi, his son Alois writes on behalf of his brother Alaric and sister Alienor that next week his father will complete seven years in Tihar jail without trial, which amounts to the maximum penalty for the offences he is accused of. 'After 12 years of investigation, Indian authorities have failed to bring my father to trial,' hehas written, describing this length of time in detention without trial being 'a gross violation of human rights'. He points out Britain is a country which is friendly towards India. 'Our father is entitled to an immediate, unconditional discharge,' he writes. Michel, meanwhile, has penned a letter from Tihar to UK PM Keir Starmer, in which he writes: ' If I am not released next week then it is illegal detention.' He says that trying him for the same crime in India, that he was exonerated for by the courts in Italy, is 'double jeopardy', and adding further offences to those he already faces, as the Indian govt has done, is a breach of extradition laws. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo Alois has also written to UK foreign secretary David Lammy criticising the British govt for not applying effective pressure on India. 'Our father has been subject to torture and attempts on his life have been made in the prison. It has not gone unnoticed that the British govt has been rushing to secure a trade deal with Mr Narendra Modi, without any concern for human rights of a British citizen. In what way is our father's case different from the many the British govt has forcefully taken up with other govts,' he asks. Michel is accused of bribing and criminally conspiring with Indian officials to win a contract on behalf of British helicopter manufacturer AgustaWestland, now renamed Leonardo's Helicopters, for 12 VVIP helicopters in 2010 and receiving €30m for securing the deal. He denies the charges.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Military 'submarine hunter' helicopter spotted flying over Worcester
A military helicopter of a type used by the navy to hunt submarines has been spotted flying over Worcester. The AgustaWestland Merlin HC4 was spotted flying over the east side of Worcester in a southerly direction, running roughly parallel to the M5 towards Bristol. The helicopter was spotted over Worcester at around 10.20am this morning, heading from RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire. The Royal Navy has two types of Merlin helicopter, the mark-2 (Mk2) and the mark-4 (Mk4). A spokesperson said: "The Mk2 is principally an anti-submarine warfare helicopter although this versatile aircraft can also provide other roles, such as search and rescue, cargo transfers and maritime patrol. "The crews' training and kit makes the Merlin Helicopter Force one of the best submarine hunters in the world. The Mk2 can also be converted to airborne surveillance and control with the addition of a powerful exterior-mounted radar."
Indian Express
7 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Delhi High Court reserves verdict in AgustaWestland accused's plea for quashing non-bailable warrant against him
The Delhi High Court Wednesday reserved judgment in a plea by AgustaWestland deal accused and former Emaar MGF director Shravan Gupta seeking quashing of non-bailable warrants issued against him in the money laundering case by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case concerns a 2010 agreement between the Indian government and AgustaWestland, a British-Italian helicopter design and manufacturing company, for the purchase of 12 helicopters meant for VVIP transport. The contract deal was allegedly riddled with corruption, involving kickbacks and bribes to Indian officials to secure it. Gupta had allegedly created an offshore corporate structure to launder the proceeds of crime generated by a co-accused in the case, who also reportedly received the same as kickbacks. According to the ED, Gupta received proceeds of crime amounting to approximately Rs 28.69 crore. He allegedly left the country in 2019 and has failed to join the probe despite multiple summons and warrants. A trial court issued a non-bailable warrant against him on August 31, 2020. The ED made Gupta an accused in the case in February 2022 in a supplementary chargesheet. Before the court of Justice Neena Bansal, senior advocate Vikas Pahwa, appearing for Gupta, informed the court that Gupta cannot participate in the probe physically but is available to join online. It was also submitted that a fresh application has been filed seeking permission to appear virtually. According to a press release by the ED, after Pahwa sought an adjournment, Justice Krishna noted that the matter had previously been argued by both parties on two occasions, after which Pahwa requested an adjournment. The court observed that such conduct is 'unbecoming of a senior advocate' and reserved the matter for verdict. In May, hearing an application moved by Christian Michel James, an accused and alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case, Special Judge Sanjeev Aggarwal of Rouse Avenue Court said that it was 'sad to see that the trial has not started in seven years'. ( James, who was extradited from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2018 and has been in Tihar jail for close to seven years, had moved an application earlier requesting adequate security measures in prison, alleging that his tea was being poisoned and that there were threats to his life. —-
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
AgustaWestland: Delhi high court rejects plea by Emmar-MGF promoter for adjournment
Representative image NEW DELHI: In the politically significant AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam case, Delhi HC on Wednesday rejected a plea from fugitive Shravan Gupta, promoter of Emaar-MGF who fled to London in 2019, seeking further adjournment of his case relating to non-bailable warrant against him and that he be allowed to appear before ED through video conferencing in view of his inability to return to India. Pulling up his counsel for misleading the court repeatedly, the court refused to grant any further adjournment while reserving its order on the plea of quashing the non-bailable warrant. ED argued before Justice Neena Bansal that Gupta had failed to appear for questioning despite nine summonses issued to him since 2019. Two days after he wrote to ED (on Nov 24, 2019) seeking "some time to join the investigation" on grounds of ill health, with a doctor's prescription advising six days rest to him, Gupta had fled to London and not returned since then, sources said. Rejecting Gupta's adjournment request, Justice Bansal said the matter had already been argued by both sides on two previous occasions, and on each date after the arguments, senior counsel (for Gupta) Vikas Pahwa had sought time to get instructions from his client regarding his return to India to join the investigation. Such conduct is "unbecoming of a senior advocate", the judge said while pointing out that the counsel had been seeking repeated adjournments. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giá vàng đang tăng mạnh trong năm 2025 — Các nhà giao dịch thông minh đã tham gia IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Gupta is accused of receiving kickbacks from AgustaWestland intermediaries for influencing the VVIP chopper deal worth Rs 3,600 crore, sealed during the UPA regime. "Shravan Gupta received proceeds of crime in Natille Overseas Inc, Switzerland; Timekeeper Ltd, British Virgin Islands; Hall Park Holdings Ltd, UK, etc which are beneficially owned by him," the ED had said earlier, and has filed 12 chargesheets in the case, including against Gupta in 2022. Probe found that a Mauritius-based shell firm received bribes in the deal signed with Agusta SPA, Italy. Bribes were laundered to India allegedly through Gupta's shell entities and shared with IAF officials, bureaucrats and politically exposed persons through a complex web of transactions.
News18
16-07-2025
- Business
- News18
AgustaWestland VVIP Chopper Scam: ED Eyes 'Kingpin' Shravan Gupta As Court Slams His Evasion Tactics
Last Updated: Gupta's alleged role as a financial conduit in the scam has been a central point in the case, which once rocked India's defence procurement establishment The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has upped the pressure on Shravan Gupta, one of the key accused in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam case, after the Delhi High Court refused to quash a non-bailable warrant against him. Gupta, who was once at the helm of affairs at Emaar MGF Land Limited as managing director and executive vice chairman, has been accused of laundering over Rs 28.6 crore in kickbacks routed through a complex offshore network. Gupta's alleged role as a financial conduit in the scam has been a central point in the case, which once rocked India's defence procurement establishment. The ED's case now hinges on Gupta's close association with co-accused Gautam Khaitan and Guido Haschke, who orchestrated the bribery trail in the AgustaWestland chopper deal. According to the agency, Gupta helped channel illicit funds. 'Offshore entities beneficially owned and controlled by Shravan Gupta have received proceeds of crime to the tune of Euro 1,912,000 and USD 3,457,180 (Rs. 28,69,94,650-) in the Agusta Westland VVIP Chopper Scam," ED said in a statement. The directorate added that Shravan Gupta had left the country in 2019 when asked to join the investigation by the directorate on the pretext of medical issues and has since been in London despite multiple summonses and warrants. 'Open ended non-bailable warrant was issued against Shravan Gupta by the special court in August, 2020. Red Corner Notice (RCN) has also been issued against Shravan Gupta in 2023," added ED. Through his shell firms abroad, Gupta allegedly acted as a financial bridge between middlemen and beneficiaries. Despite being summoned multiple times, Gupta chose to stay in London from 2019, citing medical grounds. On July 16, Gupta's counsel sought another adjournment, proposing a virtual appearance. But Justice Neena Bansal of the Delhi High Court expressed sharp disapproval, calling the repeated delays and evasion tactics 'unbecoming of a senior advocate" and reserved the matter for judgment. The ED has already attached Gupta's properties worth Rs 21 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), and investigations into the end use of the illicit money are still underway. Gupta was formally made an accused in a supplementary prosecution complaint filed in February 2022, and cognisance was taken by the PMLA court in March 2022. Significantly, ED's pursuit of Gupta marks a renewed push in the long-drawn AgustaWestland case. With the financial trail now being meticulously mapped and the net tightening around fugitives abroad, the ED appears to be driving the case to its logical conclusion. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
