Chopper scam: Michel claims pressure on him to blame Oppn

New Delhi: James Christian Michel, the alleged middleman in the Rs 3,546-crore VVIP chopper scandal claimed on Saturday that Indian agencies have been putting ‘subtle pressure’ on him to ‘extract information’ against the ‘Opposition party’, according to a report in the Indian Express.

The CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) have named Michel in the case involving alleged payment of illegal kickbacks in the deal. Interpol issued a Red Corner Notice (RCN) against him earlier this year. The ED has attached properties owned by Michel in India, but has not been able to question him yet.

Michel could not be fully investigated as he lives in Dubai, and is a British national. His firm, Global Services FZE, was allegedly involved in the transfer of bribe money to accused in India.

In April, the Milan Court of Appeals ruled that Michel was paid Rs 330 crore by AgustaWestland for services including managing the media. On Friday, Italy’s top court allowed an appeal to the order, which has to be decided within 90 days.

Michel for his part claimed that the Milan court judgment was based on a closed door trial in which evidence was misused.

“I am ready to face CBI but I have a few preconditions. I can come to India provided I am not incarcerated and the RCN is withdrawn against me like it has been against Ralph Guido Haschke,” Michel was quoted as saying.

Former Indian Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi was on Saturday sent to judicial custody till December 30 after CBI said he was not required for further custodial interrogation in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam.

Special CBI judge Arvind Kumar also sent Tyagi's cousin Sanjeev Tyagi and lawyer Gautam Khaitan, co-accused in the case related to procurement of 12 VVIP choppers from UK-based firm during the UPA-2 regime, to jail after the probe agency did not seek their further custody.