The apex court said James would be released on bail, subject to terms and conditions decided by the trial court
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted bail to alleged middleman Christian Michel James in the purported Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland corruption case under CBI probe.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta observed that “Petitioner was extradited in 2018 and has been in custody for more than six years now. According to the CBI despite filing two chargesheets and a supplementary chargesheet, the investigation is still ongoing. We are inclined to grant bail on such terms and conditions as determined by the trial court. The CBI will make appropriate requests to the trial court for imposing necessary conditions”.
The apex court said James would be released on bail, subject to terms and conditions decided by the trial court. James, however, cannot walk out of jail as he faces a related money laundering case and his bail plea is pending before the Delhi High Court.
The CBI’s counsel sought time saying the Additional Solicitor General was unavailable for arguments. When the bench showed its inclination to grant bail, the CBI’s lawyer said the plea was filed only in terms of seeking bail on medical grounds.
The bench questioned the delay in the investigation and the trial in the case and said given the speed, the trial would not conclude in 25 years. James’ counsels Aljo K. Joseph and Vishnu Shankar referred to his six-year long incarceration to buttress the plea for relief.
On December 6, the top court sought the CBI’s response on his plea and issued notice to the agency.
The alleged scam relates to the irregularities following the purchase of 12 VVIP helicopters from OEM AgustaWestland. James moved the apex court challenging the Delhi High Court’s September 25, 2024 order refusing him bail in the case.
James, a British national was extradited from Dubai in December, 2018, and arrested subsequently.
The high court had earlier dismissed his bail plea, observing there was no significant change in circumstances from the time when his bail pleas were rejected.
He is one among three alleged middlemen accused in the case. Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa are the other two suspects in the case.
The CBI chargesheet alleged an estimated loss of 398.21 million Euros (about Rs 2,666 crore) to the exchequer due to the deal signed on February 8, 2010, for the supply of VVIP choppers worth 556.262 million Euros.
