India Allows Consular Access To AugustaWestland Middleman Christian Michel

Christian Michel, a British citizen and the alleged middleman in the Rs 3,600 crore AugustaWestland chopper deal has been granted consular access by India. Michel had been extradited to India from the UAE after having been arrested in Dubai and is currently at the Tihar Jail.

Spokesperson from the Ministry of External Affairs Raveesh Kumar has been quoted by Deccan Herald as saying, “He has been granted consular access. A second secretary-level officer from the British High Commission has met Christian Michel based on the request we received last month.”

The access was granted on Thursday (10 January). Furthermore, Kumar added, “We have shared in the past that he has been allowed to communicate with his family members. I have not seen the plea which he has entered on this matter (now).”

He said that should the British High Commission request for more communication, MEA will duly consider it. He is one among the three middlemen who are allegedly involved in the deal.

The two others, Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa, are currently being probed by CBI and ED. It is alleged that Michel received 30 million euros (Rs 225 crore) from AugustaWestland.

The CBI’s chargesheet says that the country has lost Rs 2,666 crore as a result of the deal signed in 2010.