New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday (February 25) opposed in the Delhi High Court a bail plea filed by alleged middleman Christian Michel James in a money laundering case arising out of the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland ‘scam’.
James, who is a British national, was extradited from Dubai in December, 2018 and was subsequently arrested, in the Rs 3,600-crore alleged scam relating to the purchase of 12 VVIP helicopters from chopper design and manufacturing company AgustaWestland.
Apex court recently granted bail to James in CBI case
The Supreme Court recently granted James bail in the case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), noting that he was in custody in the case for the last six years and the investigation into the matter is still underway.
What did the ED submit?
The counsel representing the ED told Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma that although the apex court granted bail to James in the predicate offence being probed by the CBI, the case registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) demanded satisfaction of the twin test to grant the relief. The counsel further said that he was a flight risk, and he had to be extradited as he did not join the probe.
The ED counsel further told the High Court that the trial court was yet to frame the conditions for the release of James. The counsel also said that the High Court had earlier rejected bail pleas of James after taking into consideration all the submissions.
What did James submit?
The counsel representing James told the High Court that his passport had already expired and that he has already spent over six years in jail while the maximum punishment for the offence is seven years.
The High Court directed the matter be listed on Friday and asked the ED counsel to make his submissions on the next date.
