AgustaWestland: Christian Michel moves Delhi HC seeking interim bail for effective social distancing during COVID-19 pandemic

Alleged middle man in the AgustaWestland case, Christian Michel today moved the Delhi High Court seeking interim bail in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. .The matter was mentionined before the Registrar concerned and may come up for hearing in the coming days. .In his interim bail plea submitted through Advocates Sriram Prakkat, Vishnu Shankar and Aljo Joseph, Michel has submitted that his health condition is very critical and incompatible with the current prison status under the Covid-19 pandemic. .The infection, the plea states, could have a lethal effect on Michel who is already suffering from serious pathologies.."..the Applicant herein is of 59 years of age and ill. The agedness and a pre-existing ill state of health will make the Applicant’s body more susceptible to the said infection than any other ordinary prisoner with a normal health condition."Petition reads. .The bail plea points out an order passed by the Supreme Court on March 16, addressing the difficulty in practicing social distancing in overcrowded Indian prisons. The plea claims that the Supreme Court has stressed on the imminent need for adoption of preventive steps to avoid contagion of the aforesaid Covid-19 virus among the prisoners..Coronavirus: Consider bail for all undertrials facing up to 7 years in jail to decongest prisons, Supreme Court to states.In view of the above, Michel asserts that he needs to live in an environment where the risk of contagion is lesser and social distancing can be effectively practiced..Stating that he has been in custody since the date of his arrest, Michel has argued that his further incarceration under these circumstances, would amount to violation of human rights..Christian Michel is accused of having entered into as many as twelve contracts with AgustaWestland to legitimize the illicit commission/kickbacks amounting to 42.27 Euro million received on the procurement of VVIP helicopters by the Government of India..After being extradited to India from Dubai, Michel was produced before the CBI Court on December 5 and sent to CBI custody. On December 22, he was sent to seven days’ ED custody by the CBI Court..Christian Michel was finally sent to judicial custody on January 5 and remained in Tihar Jail ever since. His application seeking bail is presently pending before the High Court.