AGUSTAWESTLAND SCAM: SC REJECTS CHRISTIAN MICHEL’S PLEA AGAINST LOCAL ADDRESS BAIL CONDITION:

The Supreme Court today dismissed a petition filed by British national Christian Michel, in which he challenged a bail condition imposed by the Delhi High Court in a money laundering case related to the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam. A bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sanjay Kumar rejected Michel's objection to the High Court’s directive that required him to furnish the address where he intended to reside following his release.

The Court dismissed the plea, with Justice Nath remarking, “You have a permanent address inside the Tihar jail, stay there only. Finished. What to do? You have been granted bail. You don't even want to fulfil a condition of providing a local address.” Michel had contested the Delhi High Court’s March 2025 order, which had modified his bail conditions in the money laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Under the revised conditions, the High Court permitted Michel to furnish a personal bond of Rs. 5 lakh and a cash surety of Rs. 10 lakh, replacing the earlier requirement of a personal and surety bond of Rs. 5 lakh each. Additionally, it allowed Michel to be released without the immediate submission of his passport, noting that his existing passport had expired. However, the Court directed that his new passport, once issued, must be deposited directly with the trial court by the British High Commission.

The High Court also mandated that Michel provide the address where he intended to reside after his release, and instructed that this address be verified by the trial court prior to his release. This condition formed the basis of Michel’s challenge in the current petition. During the hearing, Michel's counsel argued that he lacked a local address and could not comply with this requirement unless he was first released from custody. The counsel further contended that Michel was without a passport, that his wife had divorced him, and that the High Court lacked the authority to issue directions to the British High Commission, which is a foreign entity.

In response, Justice Vikram Nath remarked, “If you can arrange to appear, you can pursue your matter. There must be some contact you have. Give that address.” When the counsel responded that the address was located in the United Kingdom, Justice Nath inquired, “Somebody must be giving instructions to you (Michel's lawyer), who is?” The counsel replied that Michel’s family was doing so. He further submitted that Michel could provide the required address after his release, but not beforehand. Justice Sanjay Kumar then observed, “If they can give you instructions, they can take him in.” The counsel stated that the British High Commission had made such arrangements. To this, Justice Nath responded, “Let the British High Commission take care of him. This is all an excuse.”

Christian Michel is accused of acting as a middleman in the alleged illegal transactions associated with the AgustaWestland helicopter deal. He was arrested by the ED following his extradition from Dubai to India in December 2018. According to the CBI, the deal caused an estimated loss of EUR 398.21 million (approximately Rs. 2666 crore) to the Indian exchequer. The contract, signed on February 8, 2010, was for the procurement of VVIP helicopters valued at EUR 556.262 million. The ED subsequently filed a chargesheet against Michel in June 2016, alleging that he had received EUR 30 million (around Rs. 225 crore) from AgustaWestland. On February 18, 2025, Michel was granted bail by the Supreme Court in the CBI case, and was later granted bail by the Delhi High Court in the ED case on March 4, 2025. However, he remains in custody due to his inability to satisfy the bail conditions.