After years of investigation into the multi-crore AgustaWestland helicopter deal case, sleuths of the central probe agencies — CBI and ED — claim to have stumbled upon a new evidence which require the inquisition of some more officials of the Indian defence establishments. Sources said investigators have found that Christen Michel James, a British national and an alleged middleman in the case, was also in constant touch with the a ‘senior official of the UK’s Royal Navy’ who used to come to India for various meetings with Indian Navy officials.
“It is believed that a senior UK’s Royal Navy official, who was in touch with Indian Navy officials, had meetings (8-10 times) with Michel at his Safdarjung flat during 2009-10. In the meetings, AgustaWestland officials were also present”, sources said.
Now CBI sleuths want to know the reason behind Michel’s interest in Indian Navy, sources said, adding that the agency may seek clarification from certain officials of the Navy. “The special investigation team (SIT), which has been recently formed by the CBI to expedite the AgustaWestland probe, is looking into the matter,” sources said.
The CBI, which booked former Chief of Air Staff S.P. Tyagi and 12 others under charges of bribery, cheating and corruption in the VVIP chopper deal, has so far questioned only IAF officials. “The agency is scrutinising the evidence collected by the CBI’s sleuths in this regard. Questioning of certain Navy officials cannot be ruled out,” sources said.
Investigations have also revealed that once Michel had allegedly offered about Euro 2,500 to a person to “offer lunch/dinner” to a Navy team. “The Indian Navy team declined the offer for lunch/dinner by him”, sources said.
Sources further said Michel was last dropped by his driver Narayan Bahadur on February 12, 2013 at the Indira Gandhi International airport here after which he probably never returned to India.
The ED recently attached properties, including his Safdarjung flat, to the tune of Rs 1.12 crore allegedly belonging to Michel in Delhi.
