New Delhi, May 29 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition filed by British national Christian Michel, who is facing trial in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam, challenging a bail condition imposed by the Delhi High Court in the money laundering case being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
A bench of justices Vikram Nath and Sanjay Kumar rejected Michel’s objection to the condition requiring him to furnish the address where he intends to reside after his release from Tihar Jail.
Dismissing the plea, Justice Nath remarked, “You have a permanent address inside the Tihar jail, stay there only. Finished. What to do? You have been granted bail. You don’t even want to fulfil a condition of providing a local address.”
Michel had moved the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court’s March 2025 order, which modified his bail conditions in the ED case.
While relaxing certain conditions such as allowing a personal bond of ₹5 lakh and a cash surety of Rs 10 lakh instead of earlier personal and surety bonds of Rs 5 lakh each, the High Court had directed that Michel’s new passport, once issued, must be deposited directly by the British High Commission with the trial court.
Crucially, the High Court also mandated that Michel must provide the address where he will reside post-release, and that the address be verified before his actual release.
Michel’s counsel argued that the condition was impractical, stating that he had no local address in India and could not arrange accommodation until released. The counsel also questioned the Delhi High Court’s authority to issue directions to the British High Commission, contending that it was a foreign sovereign entity.
However, the Supreme Court was not convinced. Justice Nath responded, “If you can arrange to appear, you can pursue your matter. There must be some contact you have. Give that address.” When the counsel replied that the only available address was in the UK, the bench queried, “Somebody must be giving instructions to you (Michel’s lawyer), who is it?” The counsel clarified it was Michel’s family.
Justice Kumar then pointed out, “If they can give you instructions, they can take him in,” referring to Michel’s ability to find a verified place of residence. The counsel added that the British High Commission had made arrangements, but Justice Nath retorted, “Let the British High Commission take care of him. This is all an excuse.”
Michel, who was extradited from Dubai to India in December 2018, is accused of being the middleman in the Rs 2,666 crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal. According to the CBI, the scam caused a loss of approximately €398.21 million to the exchequer. The ED filed a chargesheet in June 2016, alleging that Michel received €30 million (about Rs 225 crore) in kickbacks.
Michel was granted bail by the Supreme Court in the CBI case on February 18, 2025, and subsequently by the Delhi High Court in the ED case on March 4, 2025. However, he continues to remain in Tihar Jail due to non-compliance with the bail conditions.
Advocates Aljo Joseph, Sriram Parakkat, and M.S. Vishnu Shankar represented Michel before the Supreme Court.
