8 months ago
Court Modifies Bail Conditions for AgustaWestland Scam Accused Michel James
A man named Christian Michel James is accused of being a middleman in a big scandal involving the purchase of VIP helicopters.
The court in Delhi did not let him out of jail, but it did change some of the rules for his bail.
The court said he has to give a personal bond of Rs 5,00,000 and another Rs 5,00,000 in cash as surety.
They also said he doesn't have to give his passport right away, but the British High Commission has to give his new passport directly to the court.
Michel was brought to India from another country in 2018 and has been in jail since then.
The court said that because Michel chose not to follow the bail rules given by the Supreme Court, he can't ask for changes now.
The case is still being decided by a higher court.
A Delhi court rejected Christian Michel James' plea for release in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam case.
The court modified James' bail conditions, requiring a personal bond and cash surety of Rs 5,00,000 each.
James' passport will not be handed over to him but will be deposited directly with the court by the British High Commission.
The court noted that the matter is pending before the Delhi High Court and cannot be agitated again.
James was extradited to India in 2018 and has been in jail since then, despite being granted bail in February 2025.
- Who
- Christian Michel James, an alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam
- What
- A Delhi court rejected his plea for release but modified his bail conditions
- Where
- Rouse Avenue Court, Delhi
- When
- The order was passed on Tuesday, February 2025
- Why
- The court found that the matter was already pending before the Delhi High Court and could not be agitated again
Key facts
- Accused
- Christian Michel James
- Case
- AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam
- Court
- Rouse Avenue Court, Delhi
- Judge
- Sanjay Jindal
- Bail Conditions
- Personal bond of Rs 5,00,000 and cash surety of Rs 5,00,000
- Passport Condition
- British High Commission to deposit passport directly with the court
- Extradition Date
- December 4, 2018
- Bail Grant Date
- February 18, 2025
Quotes
Judge Sanjay Jindal
Special Judge of Rouse Avenue Court
“the applicant is permitted to furnish a personal bond of Rs 5,00,000/- alongwith cash surety in the sum of Rs 5,00,000/-… the second condition is modified to the extent that the applicant may be released without him depositing his passport immediately, however… the British High Commission shall ensure that the applicant’s fresh passport… is not handed over to the applicant but directly deposited with this court”
indianexpress.com
“It shows that not only the above issue has been raised again and again by the applicant before the courts at different levels, the issue is still pending consideration before the Hon’ble High Court in the above writ petition. So, when the Hon’ble High Court is already seized of the matter, this issue cannot be agitated again before this court”
indianexpress.com
