Indian Court Grants Bail to British Man Detained Over Helicopter Deal Corruption

After six years in Indian custody linked to a high-profile corruption case, Christian Michel has been granted bail by the Delhi High Court.

In a significant ruling, the Delhi High Court has ordered the release on bail of Christian James Michel, a British arms consultant, who has been held in India for six years without trial for his alleged involvement in a major corruption case surrounding a multimillion-dollar helicopter contract with AgustaWestland. Michel, who denies the charges, was extradited from the UAE in 2018 and has since languished in what the court deemed an "exceptional" situation.

The controversy arose from a deal signed in 2010 between the Indian government and AgustaWestland, which involved the purchase of 12 helicopters for $753 million. Reports indicated possible irregularities, with allegations that kickbacks amounting to €42 million ($44.7 million) were funneled to Indian officials to secure the lucrative contract. The deal was ultimately scrapped in 2014 after concerns about overpayment were raised.

Despite investigations from India's financial crime agencies, no trial has taken place for Michel, leading the court to express alarm at his prolonged pre-trial detention, which nearly matched the maximum sentence for one of the charges he faces. The court's decision to grant bail follows a similar ruling by the Supreme Court in an additional case against him. Although Michel is now free from the high-security Tihar jail, he remains unable to leave India due to his passport being confiscated.

The AgustaWestland scandal is just one of several corruption investigations targeting members of India's former Congress party and has drawn attention regarding the integrity of government contracts. While key figures in the case, including the former heads of AgustaWestland, were acquitted of charges in Italy, Indian officials maintain that these outcomes will not influence proceedings in India.