Delhi High Court on Tuesday (March 17, 2026) reserved its verdict on the petition related to the release of Christian Michel James, the alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam case. Michel had argued with the court that he had already served the maximum sentence in jail on the charges on the basis of which he was brought to India, so he should be released. However, CBI, ED and Central Government strongly opposed this demand.
Michel challenges Article 17 of India-UAE extradition treaty
This case was heard before the bench of Justice Naveen Chawla and Justice Ravinder Dudeja. The central government opposed Michel’s petition. Michel has also challenged Article 17 of the India-UAE extradition treaty in his petition. The Central Government said that Michel was brought to India from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in December 2018. At that time, in the charge sheet of 2017, he was accused of fraud, criminal conspiracy and giving bribe under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Later, in the supplementary charge sheet filed in September 2020, the charge of forgery was also added, the punishment for which can go up to life imprisonment. Therefore, it is wrong to say that Michel has completed the maximum sentence. The central government also argued that Article 17 of the Extradition Treaty allows India to prosecute those crimes as well as other crimes related to them. On this basis, charges of forgery have also been added.
Michel has spent more than 5 years in jail: Lawyer
Michel’s lawyer Aljo K in Delhi High Court. Joseph said his client has spent more than five years in jail on charges related to the Prevention of Corruption Act. Therefore he should be released. Although, he has got bail in different cases from the Supreme Court and Delhi High Court, but he is still in jail. The trial court had rejected his demand for release in August 2025, saying that there were serious charges against him, which could carry a punishment of up to life imprisonment.
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