‘Why opposing bail plea of Christian Michel James now?’: Delhi HC asks ED about ‘middleman’ in AgustaWestland case
Citing delay in the trial, the Supreme Court last week granted bail to Christian Michel James in the corruption case registered by the CBI in the multi-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam.
In September last year, the Delhi High Court had orally remarked that there were “insufficient” reasons to refuse him bail. (Express Photo by Tashi Tobgyal) The Delhi High Court Monday asked the Enforcement Directorate why it was opposing the bail plea of Christian Michel James, an alleged middleman in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland chopper deal, in a case registered by the central agency.
The query from Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma came after James told the court that the Supreme Court passed an order granting him bail in the predicate offence lodged by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Last week, the apex court granted him bail in the CBI case on grounds of delay in trial.
As the ED requested that the matter be taken up later in the day for its panel counsel to appear before the court, Justice Sharma remarked orally, “Why are you opposing this now?”
The court then posted the matter for consideration on Tuesday.
James, one of the alleged middlemen in the deal for the purchase of 12 VVIP choppers, was extradited from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2018 to stand trial in the case. He moved the Supreme Court in the CBI case after the Delhi High Court denied him bail on September 25, 2024.
The CBI said James was a consultant for AgustaWestland and acted as a middleman negotiating on behalf of the firm. According to the agency, undue favour was given to AgustaWestland for awarding the contract for procurement of VVIP helicopters in its favour by accepting illegal gratification from it through middlemen.
The CBI claimed that James “had been paid a huge bribe amount by M/s AgustaWestland, which was paid to the officers of the Indian Air Force, MOD (Ministry of Defence), bureaucrats, politicians and family in India for showing favour in the VVIP helicopter deal”.
The ED also booked him on money laundering charges with a complaint lodged against him on July 3, 2014. James was booked under Sections 7, 8, 9, 12 and 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
He has already been in jail for over six years since December 2018, and the maximum punishment possible in the ED complaint in case of a conviction, is seven years. The ED filed its chargesheet in June 2016, alleging that James received 30 million euros (approximately Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland.
In September last year, the Delhi High Court had orally remarked that there were “insufficient” reasons to refuse him bail.
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