New Delhi: A Delhi court on Wednesday sent British national Christian Michel, the middleman accused in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal, to judicial custody till December 28.
Michel was presented before Special Judge Arvind Kumar on the expiry of his four-day custody with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
He was extradited to India on December 4 from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The court also reserved order on Michel’s bail plea and said that it will pronounce order on his bail plea on December 22.
Michel’s counsel Aljo K. Joseph and Vishnu Sankar sought bail on the ground of parity as all other accused chargesheeted in the case are out on bail. The defence counsel said he would follow every condition imposed by the court if released on bail.
The defence counsel told the court that no purpose would be served keeping him behind bars.
The probe agency opposed Michel’s bail plea saying that he is an influential person, enjoys proximity with highly placed persons and his conduct has remained evasive.
Being a British citizen, there is every likelihood that if he is granted bail, he may not return to face trial. The apprehensions of CBI about his absconding from the process of law gets supports from his past conduct, the agency’s counsel said.
The CBI told the court that investigation in the case will be adversely affected if Michel was released on bail.
[source_without_link]IANS[/source_without_link]