A Delhi court has modified the bail conditions for Christian Michel James, an alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case, potentially paving the way for his release from custody. The order came after James's counsel argued that he was unable to secure his release despite previous bail grants due to stringent bail terms.
On Tuesday, December 23, 2025, Special Judge Sanjay Jindal of the Rouse Avenue Courts disposed of James's plea seeking modification of certain bail conditions in the corruption case linked to the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam. The court directed that Michel may be released without the immediate requirement of depositing his passport. However, the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) has been directed to ensure that Michel does not leave the country. Additionally, the British High Commission has been instructed that if a fresh passport is issued to Michel, it should be deposited before the trial court instead of being handed over to him.
While this modification offers some relief, Advocate Aljo K Joseph, Michel's lawyer, expressed reservations about its immediate impact, stating, "I don't think that this order will give any relief to Michel. The legal complexities are multiplied because of the fact that there is a direction to release him. Without documents, how can Michel be released?".
The modification of bail conditions follows a prior order on Saturday, December 20, 2025, from a special court that ordered Michel's release in the money laundering case connected to the same AgustaWestland case. The Special Court (PMLA) noted that Michel had been in custody for nearly seven years, which is equivalent to the maximum punishment prescribed for the alleged offenses under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). This decision was based on Section 436A of the CrPC, which mandates the release of an accused who has served half of the maximum sentence for the alleged offense when investigations are delayed.
Despite the order for release in the money laundering case, Michel could not immediately leave jail because his plea for modification of bail conditions in the separate CBI case was still pending. He will remain in custody in the CBI case. A similar application seeking release is pending before the court in the CBI matter. The CBI has been directed to file its response by December 22.
Michel, one of the alleged middlemen in the AgustaWestland deal, was extradited from Dubai in December 2018. Subsequently, he was arrested by both the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The CBI's chargesheet alleges a loss of 398.21 million euros (approximately ₹2,666 crore) to the exchequer due to the deal signed on February 8, 2010, for the supply of VVIP choppers worth 556.262 million euros. The ED's chargesheet, filed in June 2016, alleges that Michel received 30 million euros (approximately ₹225 crore) from AgustaWestland. He faces multiple charges, including corruption, criminal conspiracy, and money laundering.
