The Supreme Court of India today dismissed British national Christian Michel’s plea challenging a bail condition set by the Delhi High Court in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam case.
A bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sanjay Kumar rejected Michel’s objection to the High Court’s direction, which required him to provide a local address where he would stay after being released from custody.
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While dismissing the plea, Justice Nath remarked,
“You have a permanent address inside the Tihar jail, stay there only. Finished. What to do? You have been granted bail. You don't even want to fulfil a condition of providing a local address.”
Christian Michel had filed a challenge against the Delhi High Court’s March 2025 order that modified his bail terms in the money laundering case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The High Court had earlier allowed Michel to provide a personal bond of ₹5 lakh and a cash surety of ₹10 lakh, replacing the initial requirement of personal and surety bonds of ₹5 lakh each. It also permitted him to be released without immediately submitting his passport, as his earlier one had expired. However, the Court directed that his new passport, when issued, should be handed over by the British High Commission directly to the trial court.
Importantly, the High Court directed that Michel must submit his local address, which the trial court would verify before his release. This specific condition was challenged in his petition.
During the Supreme Court hearing today, Michel’s lawyer argued that he did not have a local address and could not provide one unless he was released. He further stated that Michel had no passport, his wife had divorced him, and the Delhi High Court lacked authority to issue directions to the British High Commission, a foreign body.
Justice Nath countered,
“If you can arrange to appear, you can pursue your matter. There must be some contact you have. Give that address.”
When the lawyer mentioned the address was in the UK, Justice Nath asked,
“Somebody must be giving instructions to you (Michel’s lawyer), who is?”
The lawyer replied that it was Michel’s family. He further stated that Michel could provide the address after his release, but not before. Justice Kumar then remarked,
“If they can give you instructions, they can take him in.”
The counsel responded that the British High Commission had already arranged for Michel’s residence. However, Justice Nath observed,
“Let the British High Commission take care of him. This is all an excuse.”
Christian Michel, accused of acting as a middleman in the AgustaWestland helicopter deal, was arrested by the ED following his extradition from Dubai to India in December 2018. The CBI had claimed that the illegal transactions caused an estimated loss of €398.21 million (around ₹2666 crore) to the Indian government in a deal signed on February 8, 2010, for the supply of VVIP choppers worth €556.262 million.
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The ED filed a chargesheet against Michel in June 2016, alleging he received €30 million (approximately ₹225 crore) from AgustaWestland. Michel was granted bail by the Supreme Court in the CBI case on February 18, 2025, and by the Delhi High Court in the ED case on March 4, 2025. However, he has remained in jail due to non-compliance with the bail conditions.
Advocates Aljo Joseph, Sriram Parakkat, and MS Vishnu Shankar represented Christian Michel in court.
Case no. – SLP(Crl) No. 8510/2025
Case Title – Christian James Michel v. Directorate of Enforcement
Augusta Westland Scam | #SupremeCourt dismisses plea by the British accused Christian Michel against bail condition before release imposed by Delhi High Court in money laundering case.
