AgustaWestland: Court Reserves Order on Christian Michel's Plea Seeking Release in CBI Case
In a dramatic turn of events, a Delhi court at Rouse Avenue on Saturday, December 21, 2025, ordered the release of British national Christian Michel James from custody in the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) money laundering case linked to the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter scam. However, Michel's long wait for freedom is set to continue, at least for now, as the court reserved its order on his plea seeking modification of bail conditions in the separate CBI corruption case, with the decision expected on Tuesday, December 23, 2025.
Michel, extradited from the UAE to India on December 5, 2018, and arrested by CBI and ED, is accused of receiving €30 million (approximately Rs 225 crore) in kickbacks as a middleman in the 2010 deal for 12 AgustaWestland helicopters, causing an alleged Rs 2,666 crore loss to the exchequer. The deal, signed on February 8, 2010, was later canceled in 2014 after Italian investigations revealed the kickbacks.
Michel's counsel argued that no person should remain in custody post-sentence completion, highlighting that he had already served seven years in jail without charges or trial progress. The agencies, however, opposed bail modifications, with CBI alleging Michel's central role in corruption, criminal conspiracy, and the scam's bribery. They continue to probe the case after 12 years, emphasizing the irregularities flagged by Italian authorities in the Rs 3,600 crore deal.
The Rouse Avenue court granted ED release on Michel's cooperation assurance but reserved the CBI bail order after hearing both sides. Meanwhile, Delhi High Court separately sought Centre/CBI/ED responses by January 9, 2026, on Michel's challenge to the India-UAE extradition treaty. Michel, who expressed faith in India's judiciary after his ED release, hailed the "law having prevailed" and hoped for quick formalities despite his expired passport.
The AgustaWestland scam, which involves one of the most high-profile defense deals in India's history, has been mired in controversy for over a decade. The CBI FIR, filed in March 2013, named Michel among 13 accused, and he has been in Tihar Jail custody since his extradition from Dubai on December 5, 2018, facing CBI corruption charges and ED money laundering.
Michel's ED release after seven years as an undertrial underscores the Prevention of Money Laundering Act's (PMLA) maximum custody limit, potentially pressuring faster CBI trial progress or bail. This move has also reaffirmed judicial checks on prolonged detention, but keeps Michel detained on corruption charges, prolonging uncertainty. For Indian polity, it revives scrutiny on VVIP chopper procurement transparency, past UPA-era decisions, and extradition efficacy, possibly fueling political debates on accountability in defense deals worth billions.
The implications of Michel's case extend beyond the AgustaWestland scam, with broader signals on judicial efficiency in high-profile economic offense cases. His treaty challenge also tests the validity of the India-UAE extradition agreement, raising questions about the efficacy of such arrangements in India's bilateral relations.
As the court prepares to deliver its verdict on Michel's plea, one thing is certain – the AgustaWestland case has become a litmus test for India's judicial system, its ability to deliver swift justice in high-profile cases, and its commitment to transparency in defense deals worth billions of rupees.
📰 Source: The Hindu - National
