VVIP Chopper case: Alleged middleman Christian Michel moves Delhi court seeking bail

Christian Michel, arrested in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case, on Friday moved a Delhi court seeking bail in cases by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), saying the chargesheet against him was not filed within the stipulated time frame of 60 days.

Special Judge Arvind Kumar has fixed February 12 as the next date of hearing and has asked the agencies to reply by then. The bail application said that the probe is complete.

"Since, the chargesheet was not filed against him within the stipulated 60-day period under section 167(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). Probe is complete. I'm in custody since December 22, 2018," Michel said in the petition.

Michel, extradited from Dubai, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on December 22 last year.

On January 5, Michel was sent to judicial custody in the ED case. He is also lodged in judicial custody in the CBI case related to the scam.

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