HC to hear Michel bail plea today

New Delhi, October 23 

The Delhi High Court is scheduled to hear on Thursday the bail pleas of Christian Michel James, an alleged middleman, in the corruption and money laundering cases filed by the CBI and ED in connection with the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam.

Michel, who is in judicial custody since January 5 this year and has been denied relief in both matters by the trial court, moved the high court against the lower court’s decision. According to the high court website, both bail applications are listed for hearing on Thursday before Justice Anu Malhotra.

Earlier in the day, the website was showing the applications as ‘under defect’. It means they have certain procedural infirmities which need to be corrected by the petitioner before they can be listed for hearing.

In his plea for regular bail, Michel has contended that the entire case depends on documentary evidence which has already been collected by the investigation agency and produced before the special CBI court. He has said no economic loss has been caused to the exchequer as Euro 8.35 million was received as compensation by India which also confiscated three helicopters worth Euro 150 million. — PTI