AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case | ‘For me Delhi is also a prison, can’t accept bail’: accused Christian Michel James to Delhi Court

“For me, Delhi is just a larger prison. My family can’t come to me. My security is at risk. I’d rather complete my sentence (7 years) and leave the country (India). I don’t want bail,” James told Special Judge Sanjeev Aggarwal of Rouse Avenue Court.

Noting that Michel had been in custody for “over six years and two months”, which is “alarmingly close to the maximum punishment” of seven years, without even being held guilty, the High Court had said while granting bail that further incarceration would only render the “entire purpose of a trial meaningless”.

On Friday, Special Judge Aggarwal asked Michel how he had been. “God has been kind to you in the last 2 months. You’ve got bail in both cases,” the Judge said.

“I can’t accept the bail. It’s unsafe. Everytime I step out of Tihar, something happens,” James replied. “Something happened in AIIMS (where James was earlier admitted) that I’d rather talk to you about in private,” he added.

“How can we keep you inside? Can’t you find a safehouse in Delhi?,” came the Judge’s response. “The problem I have is with the police. I’d rather talk to you (Special Judge) in private,” said James.

Following this, the Judge asked the Police personnel to step outside the Courtroom.

At 4:30 PM, the trial Court imposed bail conditions on James. These were – furnishing a personal bail bond and surety of Rs. 5 lakh each (in both the CBI and the ED cases), surrendering his passport before the Court, and marking his attendance in the offices of the Central Probe agencies every 15 days.

Other bail conditions imposed on him were providing his residential address and phone number to the Court, not tampering with the evidence, not influencing witnesses, not leaving India without the permission of the Court, and not speaking to the media about this case.

Currently, James is in Tihar jail. He will be produced before the Court again on March 11. He was also directed by the Court to apply for a renewal of his passport (which has expired) to the British High Commission.

“Till such time, the passport is made or is under process to be made…then the British High Commission if it considers fit at its own sole discretion may issue an emergency certificate to him…,” the Judge Aggarwal said.

As per the CBI probe, a contract for supply of 12 VVIP/non-VVIP helicopters was awarded to M/s AgustaWestland International Ltd., UK, for an amount of Rs. 3,726.96 crore and an agreement to this effect was executed on February 8, 2010 between the Ministry of Defence and AgustaWestland International Ltd.

The agency further alleged that former Chief of Air Staff S P Tyagi, between 2005 and 2007, accorded approval for reducing the altitude ceiling for VVIP helicopters from 6,000 metres to 4,500 metres. This allowed M/s AgustaWestland International Ltd. to enter the fray after being disqualified in 2002.

According to the CBI, 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.

James had been accused of paying a huge bribe by AgustaWestland to the officers of Indian Air Force, MOD, bureaucrats and politicians.