I was extradited to India in exchange for Princess Latifa: Christian Michel tells Delhi High Court

Christian Michel James, the alleged middleman in ₹3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP Chopper scam, has told the Delhi High Court that his extradition from United Arab Emirate to India was a quid pro quo for Indian authorities sending back Dubai Princess Latifa [Christian Michel James v Central Bureau of Investigation]..The submission was made by Michel's counsel, Advocate Aljo Joseph before Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri during the hearing of Michel's bail applications in cases registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED)..Joseph told the court Michel was brought to India in December 2018 just eight months after Princess Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed al-Maktoum, the runaway daughter of Dubai’s ruler, was intercepted by the Indian Coast Guards near Goa while she was trying to flee to the US. India had then sent her back to the UAE.“I was handed over in lieu of Princess Latifa, the daughter of the ruler of Dubai who was trying to flee,” Joseph submitted..He further argued that Michel's bail was rejected by the lower court on the ground that he was a citizen of the United Kingdom and had no roots in India.“I have given the dates on which I was brought back to India after spending 100 days in Dubai jail. I have spent three years of pre-trial detention in jail. All other accused persons have been released on bail except me. The only reason the trial court denied bail was because I don’t have deep roots or connections in India. It cannot be a criteria,” he said.The Court was also informed about the intervention of United Nations' Working Group on Arbitrary Detention which termed his arrest illegal as it went against several international conventions that India is a signatory to. .It was added that he has only been charged with Sections 8 and 9 of the Prevention of Corruption Act where the maximum punishment is five years imprisonment. Therefore, he is now entitled to bail as per section 436A of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), it was pointed out. Joseph further said that the investigation in the AgustaWestland case has been going on for nearly eight years and there is no clarity when it will conclude. “It is my responsibility and duty to prove my innocence. We don’t know when the investigation is likely to conclude therefore I humbly pray to grant me bail in the CBI matter,” Joseph submitted..Special Public Prosecutor, DP Singh however, submitted that Michel has also been charged with section 467 of the IPC. He added that a convenience compilation will be placed on record and he will also deal with the submission made by Michel.The Court hear the case next on December 8.Besides Aljo Joseph, advocates Sriram Parakkat and MS Vishnu Sankar are appearing for Michel.