- British arms consultant Christian Michel granted bail after six years in Indian custody over AgustaWestland bribery case.
- Delhi High Court cites “prolonged incarceration” as trials and investigations remain incomplete.
- Michel remains in India as his passport is seized, despite being freed from Tihar jail.
A British arms consultant detained in India for six years without trial over a high-profile corruption case has been granted bail by the Delhi High Court.
Christian James Michel, accused of bribing Indian officials to secure a multimillion-dollar helicopter deal for British-Italian defense firm AgustaWestland, has denied all charges. He was extradited from the UAE in 2018 and remained in custody in what a judge described as an “exceptional” situation.
EDITOR’S PICKS
- 45% of Nigerian Girls Become Mothers Before 18 — World Bank
- ECOWAS Faces Historic Defection as Three West African Nations Withdraw
- Netanyahu to Meet Trump at White House Next Week
The AgustaWestland scandal, linked to India’s former ruling Congress party, surfaced after a 2010 contract for 12 helicopters was flagged for alleged financial irregularities. The deal, worth $753 million (£455m), was cancelled in 2014 after reports suggested significant overpayment. Court documents allege Michel received around €42m ($44.7m, £25m) to secure the contract, though his lawyers argue there is no direct evidence against him.
India’s financial crime agency and domestic crime bureau launched separate probes, but neither has concluded, leaving Michel in what the court called a “prolonged incarceration.” The judge noted his six-year pre-trial detention was “alarmingly close” to the seven-year maximum sentence for money laundering, one of the charges he faces.
After the Supreme Court granted him bail in one case on February 18, the High Court followed suit in another, allowing Michel to leave Delhi’s high-security Tihar jail. However, he remains barred from leaving India, as his passport has been seized.
FURTHER READING
- [VIDEO] Commotion Rocks PDP BoT Meeting as Faction Confront Each Other
- NiDCOM Prepares for Deportation of Nigerians from U.S
- BREAKING: Sowore Pleads Not Guilty to Cybercrime Charges Filed by Police IG
The 2010 contract saw AgustaWestland outbid U.S. and Russian competitors for 12 AW-101 helicopters meant for India’s VIP transport fleet. Only three were delivered before the deal collapsed amid allegations of kickbacks totaling $67.6m.
Italian executives linked to the case, including former AgustaWestland and Finmeccanica chiefs, were acquitted in 2018. However, Indian authorities maintain that their acquittals do not affect ongoing investigations. India’s former air force chief was also arrested in 2016 for alleged bribery but was later released on bail.
