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Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
‘Sad to see trial has not started in 7 years': Judge to AgustaWestland middleman Christian Michel James
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 on Thursday 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. 'I feel sad for you every time you appear before me,' the Judge said to James. 'Do not feel sad, sir. I have learnt a lot in jail. I now know what I want to do with my life. Jail changed that for me. I have made some tremendous friends in Tihar. One official protected me in jail… he put in 110 per cent effort to keep me safe,' James replied. In a report submitted by Tihar authorities on James's fellow prisoner Shahnawaz, it was stated that he had '41 punishments' against him for his conduct in jail after 2020 during his stay in multiple jails in Tihar. The punishments were under 'disorderly behaviour' and 'prohibited articles', it said. The Tihar authorities also mentioned in the report that Shahnawaz was in Tihar jail cell number 1 from November 2018 to October 2019, during which no complaint was lodged against him. This was the period during which James alleged that there were attempts to 'poison him'. 'How can you keep a foreign prisoner with someone dangerous?' Judge Aggarwal asked the jail authorities. 'We have multiple security arrangements on the basis of the kinds of prisoners. We could not have kept him in solitary confinement,' a jail official responded. 'This is six years old. An enquiry was made and, in its report, it was stated that there is no threat to the accused person's life,' the official added. The court noted that '…it is a matter of serious concern that the accused states that there was an attempt on his life by an co-inmate, who was a desperate criminal, thereby putting his life to peril and further, as stated by him that it was an pre-planned conspiracy to eliminate him in the jail by his enemies related to this case by poisoning him'. It then sought the inquiry file on the basis of which the inquiry report dated August 29, 2019, was given, 'be called from the Senior Law Officer, Prison Head Quarters, New Delhi, through DG (Prison)' and posted the matter for hearing next on June 6. After he was granted bail in both the money laundering case linked to the alleged scam, being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and the corruption case being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), James had told the court that Delhi, for him, was a larger prison than Tihar. As per the CBI probe in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case, a contract for the supply of 12 VVIP/non-VVIP helicopters was awarded to AgustaWestland for Rs 3,726.96 crore, and an agreement to this effect was executed on February 8, 2010, between the defence ministry and the UK firm. The agency alleged that former chief of air staff S P Tyagi, between 2005 and 2007, approved reducing the altitude ceiling for VVIP helicopters from 6,000 to 4,500 metres. This allowed AgustaWestland to enter the fray after being disqualified in 2002, as per the CBI probe. The central agency also alleged that undue favour was given to AgustaWestland for awarding the contract of procurement of VVIP helicopters in its favour by accepting illegal gratification from it through middlemen.
India Today
3 days ago
- India Today
If Tihar is your address, stay there: Supreme Court dismisses Christian Michel's plea
The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to entertain a plea by Christian Michel James, an accused in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam, seeking further modification of his bail who has spent over six years in Tihar Jail, had approached the apex court stating that he is unable to provide a residential address where he would stay post-release, as required under the conditions of his displeasure, the bench remarked, 'If you have a permanent address inside Tihar Jail, then stay there. What can we do? We granted you bail, and you don't even want to fulfil the conditions?' During the hearing, the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) counsel submitted that the Delhi High Court had already granted Michel relief by waiving the requirement of a local surety, allowing him to deposit cash in lieu of lawyer, Advocate Aljo Joseph, reiterated that his client has no local address in Delhi and no family available to comply with the bail conditions. He emphasised the logistical difficulty of meeting the address requirement after years of this, the bench retorted, 'You don't have family? No one to help? Someone must be giving instructions to your lawyers. Whoever is coordinating outside can help arrange an address. If they can direct your legal case, they can manage this too.'Finding no merit in the request, the court dismissed the plea, reinforcing that bail conditions must be met and the onus is on Michel and his team to Watch
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Give local address or stay in Tihar: SC to Agusta accused
Give local address or stay in Tihar: SC to Agusta accused NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Thursday refused to entertain a plea of AgustaWestland scam accused and British national Christian Michel James for doing away with one of the bail conditions of providing a local address where he would stay after coming out of jail. The court told him that if he could not find a local address, then he had better remain in Tihar jail. Appearing before a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sanjay Kumar, Christian's lawyer submitted that he had been in jail for more than six years and he did not know anyone who would arrange a home for him to stay. He said his client had to search for a house himself, which he could only do after coming out of jail. The bench, however, asked him why his family members could not help him to ensure that bail conditions were fulfilled. He replied that he got divorced while he was in custody, and none of his family members are in the country to help him. The bench said that it could not do away with the condition as it would be difficult for authorities to track him. It said that family members of the accused could help him out, and he had to provide a local address to get bail. "You have a permanent address in Tihar Jail. You stay there. What else can be done?" the bench said and dismissed his plea. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Delhi HC on March 4 granted bail to Christian in the money laundering case relating to the purchase of VVIP choppers from Italian firm AgustaWestland. He was earlier granted bail by the apex court in a corruption case related to the deal. He was extradited from Dubai in 2018. CBI, in its chargesheet, claimed an estimated loss of 398.2 million euros (about Rs 2,666 crore) to the exchequer due to the deal that was signed on Feb 8, 2010, for the supply of VVIP choppers worth 556.262 million euros.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
SC rejects Michel's Plea challenging local address proof as HC bail condition
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a plea filed by Christian Michel James , alleged middleman in the ₹3,600 crore VVIP chopper scandal , challenging a bail condition imposed by the Delhi High Court to provide a local address to be released on bail.A division bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and PV Sanjay Kumar said that the Court granted bail to Michel subject to conditions and the same have to be fulfilled."If you have to stay in this country, you must make some arrangements. If you have a permanent address in Tihar, then stay there only. We gave you bail, you don't want to fulfil the condition of providing a local address," the Bench verbally told Michel's top court also rejected Michel's plea against the Delhi High Court's direction to the British High Commission to submit Michel's new passport to the trial court instead of handing it over to charge-sheeted both by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the VVIP chopper scandal, was granted bail by the Delhi High Court in March this year. However, Michel remained in custody due to non-compliance with the bail conditions.
India Gazette
3 days ago
- India Gazette
VVIP Chopper Case: Court summons file of inquiry conducted by jail authorities on security of Christian Michel James
New Delhi [India], May 29 (ANI): The Rouse Avenue court on Thursday summoned the file of an inquiry conducted by Tihar jail authorities regarding the safety and security of Christian Michel James, an accused in the VVIP chopper deal case. The inquiry was initiated in 2019 after an alleged attempt on James' life by an inmate. Special Judge Sanjeev directed the Deputy Inspector General of jails to produce the inquiry file through the concerned department. The court noted that the accused, Christian Michel James, stated that the report's findings contradict the statements of witnesses. The matter has been listed on June 6 for further hearing. The court issued a bailable warrant against the jail superintendent for not filing the report despite receiving notice. However, during the hearing, the officer explained that the report was prepared but couldn't reach the court due to rainfall, leading the court to cancel the warrant. During the hearing, the Superintendent of Jail Number 4 of Tihar appeared on a bailable warrant issued on the last date. The court cancelled the bailable warrant after he explained why the report was delayed. The officer submitted that the report was but it could not reach court due to rainfall. The court questioned why James was kept in a cell adjacent to a desperate criminal and suggested that he should be kept with inmates accused of white-collar crimes. Accused Christian Michel James through advocate Aljo K Joseph had moved an application on 30.04.2025 requesting for re-consideratoin of the findings of inquiry report of 29.08.201 filed by jail authorities. Earlier, an inquiry report of August 29, 2019 was filed stating that a Detailed inquiry was undertaken in which it was concluded that there is no life threat to Christian Michel James. An inquiry was conducted in 2019 after the alleged life attempts on Jamesh. An inquiry was initiated following an email recieved from British High commission. This report was filed during hearing on the earlier application moved by James regarding his safety and security in Tihar Jail. James is an accused in VVIP Chopper deal case. He was extradited to India. (ANI)
