Delhi, India (March 5, 2025) – The Delhi High Court has ordered the release of Christian James Michel, a British national who has been detained in India for nearly six years without trial in connection with a high-profile corruption case. Michel, an arms consultant, has been accused of bribing Indian officials to secure a multimillion-dollar helicopter deal for the British-Italian defence company AgustaWestland, a charge he denies.
Michel was extradited to India from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2018 and has remained in custody ever since, despite not being formally tried. The Delhi High Court described his situation as “exceptional” and noted that his six years in pre-trial detention were dangerously close to the maximum sentence for one of the charges against him, money laundering. The court’s decision to grant Michel bail follows a similar ruling by the Supreme Court in February 2025 in another case involving him.
Michel’s legal team has consistently argued that there is no conclusive evidence linking him to the alleged corruption. The case revolves around a controversial deal signed in 2010 for the purchase of 12 AW-101 helicopters by the Indian government. The deal, which was later scrapped in 2014, came under scrutiny when it was alleged that the government had overpaid for the helicopters, and Italian prosecutors suspected that kickbacks totaling around $67.6 million were paid to Indian officials to secure the contract.
Michel is accused of receiving approximately €42 million ($44.7 million) for his role in facilitating the contract. Despite investigations by India’s financial crime-fighting agency and domestic crime bureau, no formal charges or trials have taken place, leading to his prolonged detention.
While Michel has been granted bail, he remains restricted to India as his passport has been confiscated. The case has drawn significant attention, given its ties to former officials in India’s ruling Congress party and the high-profile nature of the alleged corruption.
The AgustaWestland scandal, one of several cases involving alleged corruption during the tenure of the Congress party, has seen other prominent figures implicated. In Italy, former AgustaWestland executives were acquitted of fraud and corruption charges in 2018. However, Indian authorities have emphasized that these acquittals will not impact the ongoing case in India.
Michel’s release marks a significant moment in the long-running case, but the legal proceedings remain unresolved, with the investigation still pending. The spotlight remains on both the Indian judicial system and the broader implications of this scandal on international defence deals.
Source:https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crrdqp9y212o
