The Supreme Court has granted bail to Christian Michel James, the alleged middleman in the controversial AgustaWestland chopper scam, after he spent six years in custody. The bench, comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, made this decision on Tuesday, noting that the investigation into the Rs 3,600-crore case is still ongoing.
Christian Michel James, a British national, was extradited from Dubai in December 2018 and has been detained ever since. His arrest was connected to allegations of his involvement in the high-profile scam related to the procurement of 12 VVIP helicopters from AgustaWestland, a renowned helicopter design and manufacturing company.
The decision to grant bail came after James challenged the Delhi High Court’s refusal of his bail application on September 25, 2024. The Supreme Court’s order stated that James would be released on bail under specific terms and conditions to be determined by the trial court.
