MEA Seeks Extradition of Chopper Deal Middleman Christian Michel

The alleged bribes paid for the deal of helicopters for VVIPs are to the tune of Rs 120 crore.

The Italian court had earlier ruled that the deal to purchase 12 VVIP helicopters by India from AgustaWestland involved international corruption. (Photo: Reuters)

India has approached the British government for extradition of Christian Michel, the middleman named by Italian investigators as a key intermediary in swinging the controversial deal for AgustaWestland choppers.

Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh told the Rajya Sabha that the matter is under consideration of the concerned British authorities.

Yes, the government of India has approached the government of United Kingdom for extradition of Christian Michel to India in connection with the AgustaWestland helicopter scam. 

VK Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs

The bribes in the case are to the tune of Rs 120 crore in clinching the deal for AgustaWestland – a subsidiary of Italian defence giant Finmeccanica. A recent order from an Italian court has triggered a political slugfest between BJP and Congress.

The matter came into public view after an Italian court cited Michel’s handwritten references to Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi, her political secretary Ahmed Patel and former Air Chief SP Tyagi.

SP Tyagi’s cousin, however, claimed that Tyagi may have met the other middlemen in the case, named by the Italian court – Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa – have dragged India in the case.

SP Tyagi might have met Carlo Gerosa at my daughter’s wedding in 2008. Guido Haschke used our names to shift issue of corruption in Italy to corruption in India. 

Rajeev Tyagi, SP Tyagi’s Cousin

The notes were found in a judgement that convicted the helicopter company’s chief executive.

Also read: Sonia Gandhi Rejects Allegations in AgustaWestland Chopper Deal

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had in 2013 registered a case in connection with alleged bribes paid by the firm to Indians to clinch the deal for 12 helicopters to ferry VVIPs including the President and the Prime Minister.

Congress has said that the charges against its leaders are false and baseless.

It claimed on Wednesday that AgustaWestland was blacklisted under UPA rule but “removed” from the blacklist by the Modi government.

(With PTI inputs)

Also read:
All You Want to Know About the AgustaWestland VVIP Chopper Scam
AgustaWestland Report: Questions and Counter Questions