The Rouse Avenue Court has denied British national Christian Michel James’s request for release from custody in the VVIP chopper deal case, rejecting his claim that he has already served the maximum punishment of seven years.
Special Judge Sanjay Jindal dismissed the plea after considering submissions from the CBI, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and Michel’s counsel. The court ruled that Section 436A of the CrPC, which allows release after serving half the maximum sentence, does not apply since Michel also faces charges under Section 467 of the IPC—an offence punishable with life imprisonment.
The judge noted that superior courts, including the High Court and Supreme Court, have already addressed the same arguments. “Judicial propriety does not allow this court to reconsider the above issues again and again,” the order stated.
Michel’s counsel argued that Section 467 could not be invoked under the terms of his extradition from Dubai without permission from UAE authorities, and highlighted that his passport had expired. The defence also claimed he faced the risk of arrest upon release due to the absence of visa registration with the FRRO.
The CBI countered that no application had been filed to modify bail conditions, while the ED maintained that Michel’s extradition covered connected offences, including money laundering, for which he was arrested in December 2018. The agency stressed that the seven-year limit had not yet been reached in that case.
Michel, extradited to India on December 4, 2018, remains in custody despite being granted bail in both the CBI and ED cases, as he has yet to furnish a bail bond and surrender his passport. The VVIP chopper deal case involves allegations of corruption, conspiracy, and money laundering in the ₹3,600 crore AgustaWestland helicopter contract.
