Delhi’s Patiala House Court on Wednesday reserves order on Christian Michel’s bail plea. The Court said that the order will be passed on February 26. Earlier Probing agency CBI opposed the Christian Michel’s (the alleged middleman in VVIP Chopper Scam) bail in Delhi’s Patiala House Court. The Investigation Agency said ‘this court has taken cognizance in both ED and CBI charge sheet. Once the cognizance has taken then accused cannot ask for statutory bail.’.
CBI opposes Christian Michel's bail in Delhi's Patiala House Court,says 'this court has taken cognizance in both ED and CBI chargesheet. Once the cognizance has taken then accused cannot ask for statutory bail' #agustawestland (file pic) pic.twitter.com/l3wFwVhNbz
— ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2019
Both ED and CBI filed their reply in the Court strongly opposing the Bail Plea filed by the Christian Michel.
Earlier, on February 8, Christian Michel arrested in the Agusta Westland VVIP chopper case, moved to a court seeking bail in cases by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), saying the charge sheet against him was not filed within the stipulated time frame of 60 days.
Special Judge Arvind Kumar sought the agencies’ reply by February 12, when the court will hear the matter. The bail application said that the probe is complete.
“Since, the charge sheet was not filed against him within the stipulated 60-day period under section 167(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). The probe is complete. I’m in custody since December 22, 2018,” Michel said in the petition reportedly.
The Enforcement Directorate on December 22 arrested British National Christian Michel, the alleged middlemen in the AgustaWestland VVIP Chopper Scam. Christian Michel was produced before the Special Judge Arvind Kumar where the ED sought his custody for 15 days.
Michel is among three foreign nationals that have been Charge-sheeted by the Investigation Agency. Others Include – Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in this findings has alleged there was an estimated loss of 398.21 million euro (approximately ₹2,666 crore) to the exchequer in the deal that was signed on February 8, 2010, for the supply of VVIP choppers worth 556.262 million euro.
The CBI on September 1, 2017, had filed a charge sheet in the case in which former IAF Chief SP Tyagi and British national Christian Michel were named among the accused. Nine others were also named in the charge sheet in connection with a bribery case in the VVIP chopper deal.
While the Enforcement Directorate in his Charge Sheet dated June 2016 has alleged he received 30 million euros (about ₹225 crore) from Agusta Westland.
The Foreign National Michel was arrested in UAE and extradited to India on December 04.
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