CBI court has agreed to the Enforcement Directorate’s application seeking permission to allow it to further question Christian Michel, the alleged middleman in AgustaWestland case in Tihar Jail.
The CBI court also sought a detailed report with all records from Tihar Jail authorities on allegations made by Michel that he was being tortured in the jail. Court also sought recording of CCTV of last 5 days from the jail authorities.
Yesterday, the court had sought a response from Tihar Jail authorities today on the ED’s plea to interrogate Michel inside the prison. Following the response from the jail authorities, the ED has been given the permission. Michel is among the three alleged middlemen being probed by the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation in the VVIP chopper case.
Meanwhile the ED said yesterday that it had attached a Paris-based property worth Rs 5.83 crore of the ex-wife of Michel. Under the anti-money laundering law, it said a provisional order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) has been issued to attach the asset at 45 Avenue, Victor Hugo in France and it is in the name of Ms SCI Solaime and belongs to his former wife Valerie Michel. The ED alleged that she had received “proceeds of crime” of this scam from the accused, Michel.
The agency said its probe found that Michel “had transferred the amount received as kickbacks to various entities, including euro 9,22,185.76 (equivalent to Rs. 5,83,40,422) to his ex-wife Valerie Michel and subsequently to SCI Solaime for investment in purchase of the immovable property”.
—India Legal Bureau