The Supreme Court will hear on Tuesday the case related to the bail petition of Christian Michel James, a middleman accused in the AgustaWestland scam.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed the affidavit before the Apex Court in the case.
ED opposed the bail of the accused, stating that Michel was not a citizen of India and if granted bail, he may run away to evade investigation.
The national investigating agency also apprehended the danger of his absconding the country.
As per the affidavit, the investigation regarding the scam was going on and the presence of the petitioner was crucial at all stages. Therefore, bail should not be granted.
It further said that Michel’s extradition was made possible from the UAE after a lot difficulties and procedural hurdles.
earlier on May 18, a three-judge bench of the Apex Court, comprising Justice Dr Dhananjaya Yashwant Chandrachud, Justice Surya Kant and Justice P.S. Narasimha had sought replies from both the CBI and ED on the bail plea of Michel.
Advocate Aljo K. Joseph, who had appeared for the accused, told the top court that his client has already completed more than half of his jail term under the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act, which sentences a person for five years.
He said Michel has already undergone imprisonment of 3.5 years, including 120 days of sentence outside India.
When the bar raised the question on his absconding,the advocate said his client has never absconded.
Michel was a middleman in the deal involving purchase of 12 VVIP Choppers from AgustaWestland, worth 500 million euros.
He was extradited from UAE in 2018.