NEW DELHI: In a significant construction in UPA-era VVIP chopper scam, a UAE court has ordered the extradition of European middleman Christian Michel James, thought to be to be the man who can spill the beans on Indian politicians and bureaucrats who had been paid bribes within the Rs 3,727 crore deal.
Top officers in investigating businesses instructed TOI that Michel’s extradition was once showed to them via unofficial channels whilst UAE is but to officially ship any file to the authorities right here.
The investigating businesses have accessed the UAE court’s extradition order and it is being translated as it is in Arabic.
Michel was once allegedly given Euro 42 million (round Rs 350 crore) via Anglo-Italian company – AgustaWestland – for paying bribes to Indian politicians, defence ministry officers, bureaucrats, Indian Air Force officers including its then chief SP Tyagi and others for swinging the contract for provide of 12 VVIP choppers in favour of the corporate.
The UK national – Michel – was once arrested in February 2017 via the UAE authorities and because then, the extradition lawsuits are happening within the UAE. He is lately out on bail there.
CBI and ED teams have visited UAE a couple of times within the final 12 months to share documents including chargesheet, witness statements and different evidence with the UAE authorities and court.
Officials mentioned Michel’s extradition is a big win relating to organising his links in political circles and defence ministry and precise culprits could now be identified once his interrogation starts in India.
“Only he could tell who is “AP”, “Pol”, “Bur” and “AF” within the note he got written for paying bribes,” mentioned an officer.
CBI had filed a chargesheet within the case in September final 12 months naming former IAF Chief SP Tyagi, Christian Michel, retired Air Marshal JS Gujral and four different foreign nationals.
The agency has claimed that SP Tyagi conspired to cut back the ceiling height of VVIP choppers and different operational specs as well as facilitated the bidding of AgustaWestland, for which huge bribes had been paid via a set of middlemen in Europe and India and a circuitous course of companies in nine nations.
CBI established “money trail” of 62 million Euros (round 415 crore) out of suspected 67 million euros (Rs 452 crore) in overall bribe.
CBI alleged that irregularities within the award of contract to AgustaWestland in 2010 led to ab estimated lack of 398.21 million euros (round Rs 2,666 crore) to the Indian government within the 556.262 million euros (Rs 3726.9 crore) contract.
CBI and ED have claimed that no longer handiest Michel had get right of entry to to secret files of ministry of defence, but he got information about the movement of files, including the cupboard committee on security (CCS) meetings with reference to quick helicopter procurement.
The businesses have claimed that Christian Michel had signed two agreements with AgustaWestland – one for Euro 42 million (which he later decreased to 30 million), and 2d settlement for Euro 28 million, with the “circle of relatives” to be “honoured in complete”.
CBI sources say that this 2d payment settlement seems to be the only involving Delhi-based lawyer Gautam Khaitan and Tyagi brothers. The probe on this is lately under approach.
Michel used his two firms – M/s Global Services FZE, Dubai and M/s Global Trade & Commerce Services, London to additional procedure the kickbacks in different firms.
Top officers in investigating businesses instructed TOI that Michel’s extradition was once showed to them via unofficial channels whilst UAE is but to officially ship any file to the authorities right here.
The investigating businesses have accessed the UAE court’s extradition order and it is being translated as it is in Arabic.
Michel was once allegedly given Euro 42 million (round Rs 350 crore) via Anglo-Italian company – AgustaWestland – for paying bribes to Indian politicians, defence ministry officers, bureaucrats, Indian Air Force officers including its then chief SP Tyagi and others for swinging the contract for provide of 12 VVIP choppers in favour of the corporate.
The UK national – Michel – was once arrested in February 2017 via the UAE authorities and because then, the extradition lawsuits are happening within the UAE. He is lately out on bail there.
CBI and ED teams have visited UAE a couple of times within the final 12 months to share documents including chargesheet, witness statements and different evidence with the UAE authorities and court.
Officials mentioned Michel’s extradition is a big win relating to organising his links in political circles and defence ministry and precise culprits could now be identified once his interrogation starts in India.
“Only he could tell who is “AP”, “Pol”, “Bur” and “AF” within the note he got written for paying bribes,” mentioned an officer.
CBI had filed a chargesheet within the case in September final 12 months naming former IAF Chief SP Tyagi, Christian Michel, retired Air Marshal JS Gujral and four different foreign nationals.
The agency has claimed that SP Tyagi conspired to cut back the ceiling height of VVIP choppers and different operational specs as well as facilitated the bidding of AgustaWestland, for which huge bribes had been paid via a set of middlemen in Europe and India and a circuitous course of companies in nine nations.
CBI established “money trail” of 62 million Euros (round 415 crore) out of suspected 67 million euros (Rs 452 crore) in overall bribe.
CBI alleged that irregularities within the award of contract to AgustaWestland in 2010 led to ab estimated lack of 398.21 million euros (round Rs 2,666 crore) to the Indian government within the 556.262 million euros (Rs 3726.9 crore) contract.
CBI and ED have claimed that no longer handiest Michel had get right of entry to to secret files of ministry of defence, but he got information about the movement of files, including the cupboard committee on security (CCS) meetings with reference to quick helicopter procurement.
The businesses have claimed that Christian Michel had signed two agreements with AgustaWestland – one for Euro 42 million (which he later decreased to 30 million), and 2d settlement for Euro 28 million, with the “circle of relatives” to be “honoured in complete”.
CBI sources say that this 2d payment settlement seems to be the only involving Delhi-based lawyer Gautam Khaitan and Tyagi brothers. The probe on this is lately under approach.
Michel used his two firms – M/s Global Services FZE, Dubai and M/s Global Trade & Commerce Services, London to additional procedure the kickbacks in different firms.
VVIP chopper scam: UAE court orders extradition of middleman Christian Michel
![VVIP chopper scam: UAE court orders extradition of middleman Christian Michel]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
September 19, 2018
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