Supreme Court to Hear Christian Michel's Plea in AgustaWestland Scam

The Supreme Court is set to hear the plea of Christian Michel James, an alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam, seeking release from jail. The plea challenges Article 17 of the India-UAE extradition treaty, arguing his prolonged detention is illegal after serving the maximum sentence.

The Supreme Court on Monday decided to hear the plea of Christian Michel James, an alleged middleman in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam, who is seeking release from jail. A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta issued notices to the Centre, CBI, and ED, seeking their responses within four weeks.

James has contested Article 17 of the 1999 extradition treaty, which permits prosecution for connected offences beyond the extradition terms. His counsel argues that this treaty shouldn't supersede existing laws. Previously dismissed by the Delhi High Court, James's plea gets renewed attention after serving seven years, which is the maximum sentence for his extradition charges.

Now, James remains in jail due to unfulfilled bail conditions, despite the Supreme Court granting bail in some cases. With high-profile allegations against him, including claims of financial losses to the exchequer from the VVIP chopper deal signed in 2010, James's situation remains complex and contentious.