The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is actively opposing the release of Christian Michel James, the alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case. Michel has applied for release, arguing that he has already served the maximum sentence of seven years for the offenses related to his extradition.

On August 5, 2025, the ED informed a Delhi court that Christian Michel James' plea for release was "misleading and devoid of any merits". Special Judge Sanjay Jindal is hearing James' plea, which is based on the argument that he has undergone the maximum sentence for the offenses he was extradited for. The ED, however, contends that James has not served the maximum sentence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) since his arrest in December 2018. They argue that the term James has served in custody cannot be considered complete at this stage. The court has scheduled further hearings on the matter.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the ED have been investigating the AgustaWestland scam, which is estimated to be worth ₹3,700 crore. The CBI's chargesheet alleges an estimated loss of 398.21 million euros (approximately Rs 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 alleges that James received 30 million euros (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland.

Michel was extradited from Dubai in December 2018 and subsequently arrested by the CBI and the ED. He was granted bail in the CBI case by the Supreme Court on February 18 earlier this year, and two weeks later, he was granted bail in the ED case by the Delhi High Court. However, Michel remains in Tihar prison, awaiting the renewal of his passport and has not furnished bail bonds.

In March 2024, the Supreme Court dismissed a petition filed by Michel seeking release from jail, claiming he had spent five years in jail, which he argued was the maximum punishment for the offenses for which he was extradited in 2018. The court rejected his application, referencing a previous judgment stating that Michel was not entitled to mandatory release as an undertrial upon completing the maximum sentence because the CBI filed an additional charge sheet accusing him under Section 467 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which carries a maximum punishment of life term for forgery of any valuable document.