Met Rakesh Asthana in Dubai, he threatened to make my life hell, Christian Michel tells Delhi court

The BJP has claimed Michel's extradition a diplomatic victory for India, which could mean "serious trouble" for the Congress's "first family". Its leaders say Michel's arrest was an unequivocal affirmation of the Narendra Modi government's "seriousness in fighting corruption".

British national Christian Michel James (C), the alleged middleman in a deal between India and Anglo-Italian helicopter firm AgustaWestland, is pictured in a vehicle while leaving a district court in New Delhi on December 5, 2018, following his extradition from the United Arab Emirates. - The alleged British middleman in a dicey helicopter deal between India and an Anglo-Italian firm was remanded in custody on December 5 after being extradited by the UAE, authorities said. (Photo by - / AFP)

The CBI and the ED had filed charge sheets in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal case, naming Christian Michel and others as accused.

Michel said Asthana had met him sometime back in Dubai and threatened to make his life hell inside the jail if he did not support the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in its investigation in the case.

Rakesh Asthana had hogged the headlines due to his bitter fight with former CBI chief Alok Verma.

New Delhi: Pleading innocence, alleged middleman in the Rs 3,600 cr AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal, told a court here on Tuesday that then CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana had threatened him in Dubai that he will make his life hell. The British national said he’s still not been able to comprehend why he’s been lodged with “killers” in the jail. Michel said Asthana had met him sometime back in Dubai and threatened to make his life hell inside the jail if he did not support the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in its investigation in the case. Michel, who was presented before Special Judge Arvind Kumar, said he was put in the prison with 16-17 Kashmiri separatist leaders and that his next door inmate is gangster Chhota Rajan. "I don't understand what crime I have committed to be put along with those who have killed," he asked. Michel's advocates Aljo K. Joseph and Vishnu Sankar also requested the court to shift him from an isolation cell to a normal cell in jail number 7, where white-collar accused are housed. Public prosecutor N.K. Matta, appearing for the Enforcement Directorate (ED), told the court that this application is an afterthought. "They filed their application after we filed our application to interrogate him. If they have issues in jail, they can write to the jail superintendent. They are directly moving court," he said. The court sought report from jail authorities and CCTV footage. The court had on March 5 directed Tihar Jail authorities to shift Michel to Jail number 1, 3 or 4, which are meant for keeping undertrials. Matta told the court that the investigating agency had received some more documents and wanted to further interrogate the accused in judicial custody for two days. The court allowed ED to quiz Michel for two days. As per the order, the ED is allowed to quiz Michel on March 13 and 14, from 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., and 2.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. The court has allowed defense counsel to remain present for one hour during the questioning. Michel was extradited to India on December 4, 2018 from the United Arab Emirates. The CBI and the ED had filed charge sheets in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal case, naming Michel and others as accused. The BJP has claimed Michel's extradition a diplomatic victory for India, which could mean "serious trouble" for the Congress's "first family". Its leaders say Michel's arrest was an unequivocal affirmation of the Narendra Modi government's "seriousness in fighting corruption". Civil Aviation Security chief Rakesh Asthana, who hogged the headlines due to his bitter fight with former CBI chief Alok Verma, is among three IPS officers who have been given the top pay scale, according to a Personnel Ministry order. Rakesh Asthana (CBI No. 2) had hogged the headlines due to his bitter fight with former CBI chief Alok Verma. He is currently the civil aviation security chief and is among the three IPS oficers who have been given the top pay scale of Rs 2.25 lakh. All the three officials are 1984-batch IPS officers. Referring to Asthana, Congress President Rahul Gandhi last October had tweeted,"The PM’s blue-eyed boy, Gujarat cadre officer, of Godhra SIT fame, infiltrated as No. 2 into the CBI, has now been caught taking bribes.” (With additional information from Agencies)

Published at : 12 Mar 2019 08:31 PM (IST)

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