CBI to approach UAE for Agusta middleman's extradition

The CBI will soon approach the UAE seeking extradition of British national Christian Michel, who is wanted in the multi-crore AgustaWestland chopper scam.

Official sources said the probe agency will seek cooperation from the UAE as it wants to move forward in the case in which “bribes were paid to politicians and bureaucrats”.

Indian agencies claim that Michel is one of the key middlemen in the Agusta deal.
 According to investigators, Michel received money to facilitate the deal and he paid bribes to politicians and bureaucrats.

The CBI and the ED have already got Interpol issue a Red Corner Notice (RCN) against Michel. A court has also issued a non-bailable warrant against him. Both the agencies want to question Michel in India but he has refused to come to India fearing arrest.

 Michel had even said that he could go to the Indian embassy in Abu Dhabi and could answer investigators’ questions through video conferencing.

 According to a charge sheet filed by the ED, Michel had received Euro 30 million (around Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland.

This, the ED said, was nothing but “kickbacks” paid to Indian politicians and bureaucrats for firming up the 12 VVIP copter purchases and these transactions were disguised as genuine.

 The ED found that remittances made by Michel to the Delhi firm were made from the funds which he got from AgustaWestland through “criminal activity”.
DH News Service