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In AgustaWestland case, HC modifies bail conditions, allows Michel to furnish cash surety

Michel was granted bail in March by Justice Sharma in an ED case, noting that the case “presents an exceptional situation” where Michel had been in custody for over six years but the trial had “not even commenced due to the incomplete investigation”.

Christian Michel JamesChristian Michel James. (Source: File)

The Delhi High Court Thursday modified the bail condition of the alleged middleman in AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case Christian Michel James permitting him to furnish a cash surety instead of a personal bond and surety.

On March 4, the Delhi High Court had granted bail to Michel on the condition that he shall furnish a personal bond and surety of `5 lakh each and on surrendering the passport before the trial court.

Michel had moved Delhi HC seeking modification of the two bail conditions, submitting that he has no relative or friends in India who can stand surety for him. Michel had also pointed out that his old passport has expired, and that the process of renewal shall take between four to eight weeks, and thus depositing his passport is not possible.

Allowing the modification, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma directed, “Instead of the requirement to furnish a personal bond and surety bond of `5 lakh each – the applicant (Michel) shall now furnish a personal bond of `5 lakh along with a cash surety in the enhanced sum of `10 lakh.”

On Michel’s request to waive off the condition for surrendering his passport, Justice Sharma noted that the condition stands modified, “to the extent that applicant may be released on regular bail, without him depositing his passport immediately.”

“…however, the FRRO shall ensure that the applicant does not leave the country, and the British High Commission (or the concerned authority issuing the applicant’s passport) shall ensure that the applicant’s fresh passport, whenever the same is ready, is not handed over to the applicant, but directly deposited with the learned trial court under intimation to this court,” Justice Sharma ruled.

Michel was granted bail in March by Justice Sharma in an ED case, noting that the case “presents an exceptional situation” where Michel had been in custody for over six years but the trial had “not even commenced due to the incomplete investigation”.

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On February 18, the top court had also pointed to the delay in trial while granting bail to Michel in the 2013 CBI case.

Sohini Ghosh is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express. Previously based in Ahmedabad covering Gujarat, she recently moved to the New Delhi bureau, where she primarily covers legal developments at the Delhi High Court Professional Profile Background: An alumna of the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), she previously worked with ET NOW before joining The Indian Express. Core Beats: Her reporting is currently centered on the Delhi High Court, with a focus on high-profile constitutional disputes, disputes over intellectual property, criminal and civil cases, issues of human rights and regulatory law (especially in the areas of technology and healthcare). Earlier Specialty: In Gujarat, she was known for her rigorous coverage in the beats of crime, law and policy, and social justice issues, including the 2002 riot cases, 2008 serial bomb blast case, 2016 flogging of Dalits in Una, among others. She has extensively covered health in the state, including being part of the team that revealed the segregation of wards at the state’s largest government hospital on lines of faith in April 2020. With Ahmedabad being a UNESCO heritage city, she has widely covered urban development and heritage issues, including the redevelopment of the Sabarmati Ashram Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reporting from the Delhi High Court covers major political, constitutional, corporate, and public-interest legal battles: High-Profile Case Coverage She has extensively covered the various legal battles - including for compensation under the aegis of North East Delhi Riots Claims Commission - pertaining to the 2020 northeast Delhi riots, as well as 1984 anti-Sikh riots. She has also led coverage at the intersection of technology and governance, and its impact on the citizenry, from, and beyond courtrooms — such as the government’s stakeholder consultations for framing AI-Deepfake policy. Signature Style Sohini is recognized for her sustained reporting from courtrooms and beyond. She specialises in breaking down dense legal arguments to make legalese accessible for readers. Her transition from Gujarat to Delhi has seen her expand her coverage on regulatory, corporate and intellectual property law, while maintaining a strong commitment to human rights and lacuna in the criminal justice system. X (Twitter): @thanda_ghosh ... Read More

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