SC Seeks Centre’s Reply on Christian Michel James’s Release Plea in AgustaWestland Case
SC Seeks Centre’s Reply on Christian Michel James’s Release Plea in AgustaWestland Case
SC seeks Centre's response on Christian Michel James's plea for release from custody, arguing he has already served the maximum sentence in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case.
The Supreme Court on Monday, May 4, 2026, sought the Centre’s response to a petition filed by Christian Michel James, the alleged middleman in the ₹3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case, who is seeking his release from custody on the grounds that he has already undergone the maximum sentence for the offences for which he was extradited. A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta issued notice to the Centre, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), directing them to file their responses within four weeks.
Michel James has contended that his present custody is not warranted given the sentence served. The court’s move comes as prosecutors prepare written responses to the petition, and agencies involved will revisit the evidence and legal questions surrounding the extradition and the charges in the case, which has long drawn attention to the defence deal.
Further hearings will be scheduled after Centre and agencies submit their replies. The outcome could influence the timeline of proceedings in the AgustaWestland matter, with its defined ₹3,600-crore value and the role of intermediaries in the bribery allegations linked to the helicopter deal.
