AgustaWestland case | Accused by ED of money laundering, Patiala House Court issues production warrant against Christian Michel

Patiala House Court has issued production warrant against Christian Michel on Friday. The court was responding to Enforcement Directorate's plea where it sought production warrant of the alleged AgustaWestland middleman.

The court also ordered Tihar Jail authorities to produce him on Saturday. 

The order means the Michel is being accused of money laundering in the AgustaWestland case and no longer remains a 'middleman' in the eyes of the law.

Delhi's Patiala House Court also sought a reply of DG Prison and Tihar Jail authority on the application of alleged AgustaWestland middleman Christian Michel.

READ: Republic Summit 2018 | 'Four Years Ago, Nobody Expected Christian Michel Will Be Extradited To India', Says PM Modi

Michel was arrested in the UAE and extradited to India on December 4. The next day, he was produced in the court which allowed his five-day custodial interrogation by the CBI which was later extended by five more days.

The next day, he was produced in the court which allowed his five-day custodial interrogation by the CBI which was later extended by five more days.

A Delhi court on December 15 extended by four days the CBI custody of Michel.

READ | AgustaWestland Scam: CBI Custody Of Christian Michel Extended By Four Days

Moments after the groundbreaking newsbreak in the AgustaWestland case that Christian Michel will be extradited to India, Republic TV exclusively spoke to Michel's lawyer Rosemary Patrizi in the matter. She claimed Michel's innocence in the AgustaWestland scam case stating that he is being targeted for elections in India. 

"Questions have been made thousand times but there is no bribery and India never ever showed any evidence about bribery. After five years, no one has about kickbacks and bribery. I believe he is innocent and there is no bribery. I believe they are using him to win the elections. I hope Mr Modi doesn't need this to win the elections. I hope he will have a good time in India. I hope he will be free to say what he has to say, that he is innocent and there is no bribery. Even our court here finds that," Patrizi added.

READ:  AgustaWestland Case | ‘Christian Michel used for elections, he is innocent’, claims his lawyer Rosemary Patrizi

Michel is among the three alleged middlemen being probed in the case by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The others are Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa.

Both CBI and ED had notified an Interpol red corner notice (RCN) against him after the court issued a non-bailable warrant against him.

The CBI has alleged there was an estimated loss of Euro 398.21 million (about Rs 2,666 crore) to the exchequer in the deal that was signed on February 8, 2010 for the supply of VVIP choppers worth Euro 556.262 million.

The ED, in its charge sheet filed against Michel in June 2016, had alleged that he received EUR 30 million (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland.

READ: Republic TV Accesses Statement Of Christian Michel's Driver Who May Be Brought Face-to-face With The Agusta Middleman