The CBI has announced that Christian Michel James, the alleged middleman in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland helicopter deal, was extradited to India late on Tuesday night from the UAE. Christian Michel is expected to be produced in a court in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Welcoming Christian Michel's extradition as a diplomatic victory for India, BJP spokesperson G.V.L. Narasimha Rao claimed the development spelt “serious” trouble for the Congress's “first family”, referring to Sonia Gandhi's family.
Christian Michel James after his arrival in India | Twitter handle of ANI
The CBI announced Christian Michel reached the New Delhi Airport on a Gulfstream jet at 10.35pm on Tuesday. The CBI spokesperson also added the operation to extradite Christian Michel, dubbed 'Operation Unicorn' had been carried out under the guidance of National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and was coordinated by interim CBI chief M. Nageshwar Rao.
The CBI accuses Christian Michel of paying bribes to Indian authorities to secure a contract for 12 VVIP helicopters from AgustaWestland in 2010. After an Interpol Red Notice was issued against him, Christian Michel was arrested in Dubai in February 2017. A charge-sheet had been filed against Christian Michel in September 2017.
(With PTI inputs)
