AgustaWestland case: Christian Michel can apply for British passport, still refusing to leave jail

NEW DELHI: Christian James Michel, a British citizen and one of the accused in the high-profile AgustaWestland case, has been permitted by Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court to apply for a British passport while still being lodged in Tihar Jail. Michel’s prolonged detention stems from his expired passport, which has prevented his release despite being granted bail in both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) cases by the Supreme Court and Delhi High Court, respectively.

Michel, described as the alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scandal, declined to leave jail following his bail, citing severe security risks and previous threats to his life. "Delhi is just a larger prison," Michel reportedly told the court. His extradition from Dubai in December 2018 marked the beginning of his incarceration in India, where he was subsequently arrested by both the CBI and ED.

AgustaWestland Case

The AgustaWestland case revolves around a controversial defense deal signed in 2010 between India and AgustaWestland, a subsidiary of Italian aerospace company, for the purchase of 12 luxury VVIP helicopters for high-ranking officials. The deal, valued at 556.262 million euros (approximately ₹4,500 crore), was later marred by allegations of corruption and bribery involving political leaders, bureaucrats, and defense officials. Investigations revealed a financial loss of 398.21 million euros (about ₹2,666 crore) to the Indian exchequer. Michel, along with two other alleged middlemen—Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa—is accused of facilitating illegal transactions and influencing the deal. The ED's chargesheet claims Michel received 30 million euros (approximately ₹225 crore) as kickbacks.

Michel's lawyers, Aljo K. Joseph, Vishnu Shankar, and Sriram Parakkat, informed the court about two prior poisoning attempts on his life during his imprisonment. In one instance, another inmate confessed to poisoning Michel in 2019. On another occasion, a milk container allegedly laced with poison killed his cats instead of Michel. Following these incidents, his lawyers requested increased safety measures and cited them as a basis for his refusal to leave jail post-bail.

The Rouse Avenue Court’s recent directive requires jail authorities to facilitate Michel’s online passport application. Michel’s lawyers asserted that securing a valid passport is a prerequisite for his eventual release from prison. Investigators allege that Michel played a pivotal role in channeling illicit payments during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime, a charge he continues to contest.