A bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sanjay Kumar refused to interfere with the High Court’s March 2025 order, which required Michel to disclose the address where he intended to stay after his release.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted bail to British national Christian Michel James, middleman accused in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam involving the purchase of 12 VVIP helicopters, in the criminal case being prosecuted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The apex court said that argument of James that he be released on bail on the ground that he has completed half of maximum sentence in the cases cannot be accepted.
A source close to the Briton corroborated that the letter dated November 5 is indeed in Michel's hand-writing.
Michel is currently lodged in Tihar jail in connection with alleged irregularities in the chopper deal.
59 -year-old Michel moved the plea citing his vulnerability to the coronavirus outbreak due to overcrowding in prison. Upholding the Delhi High Court's decision, the top court bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and BR Gavai, rejected Michel's interim bail.
Christian Michel was arrested by the ED on December 22, 2018 after being extradited from Dubai.
The plea said, Michel's health condition needs to be monitored and treated and he requires home-like environment where the risk of contagion is less and social distancing can be effectively practiced.
Special Judge Arvind Kumar rejected Michel’s applications, saying there was no sufficient ground to grant the relief.
Why is the AgustaWestland helicopter purchase, way back in 1987, important now? An exclusive book extract...
