Court Deliberates on Christian Michel James' Bail Modification Request

Court Decision on Bail Application

The Rouse Avenue Court has reserved its judgment on the application filed by accused Christian Michel James on Monday. James is seeking a modification of the bail conditions related to the AgustaWestland helicopter case. The British national is implicated in a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case concerning the AgustaWestland VIP helicopter deal. Since his extradition from Dubai, he has been in custody since December 4, 2018. Special Judge Sanjay Jindal heard arguments from both the defense attorney and the special public prosecutor D.P. Singh, assisted by advocate Manu Mishra, before reserving the decision.

Upcoming Court Ruling

The court is expected to announce its decision on December 23. Previously, it had ordered the release of Christian Michel James in connection with the money laundering case tied to the AgustaWestland helicopter incident. James has indicated that he has already served a maximum of seven years for the charges against him, which were the basis for his extradition. Conversely, the CBI contends that a charge of forgery under Section 467 of the Indian Penal Code has also been filed against James, which could lead to a life sentence.

Legal Arguments Presented

It was also argued that the crime under Section 467 of the IPC was not mentioned in the extradition request. The Ministry of Home Affairs is the central authority for sending extradition requests, but in this case, the request was sent by the Ministry of External Affairs. The prosecution did not bring this fact to the court's attention. The defense attorney further argued that the issues of life and liberty are at stake, as the accused has been in custody for an extended period without a trial or even formal charges.