Christian Michel James, one of the alleged middlemen in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case, alleged before a Delhi court Wednesday that there were attempts to poison him in prison.
“I want to put it on record…there were attempts to poison me in 2019,” he submitted before Special Judge Sanjeev Aggarwal of Rouse Avenue Court. Represented by advocate Alijo K Joseph, the accused also moved an application seeking adequate security arrangements in jail.
Calling the allegation by James “specific and serious”, the court sought a detailed report from jail authorities on the safety and security measures taken by them.
After James complained of persistent pain following a surgery in February this year, the court also instructed the jail superintendent to ensure that he was taken to the orthopaedic department at AIIMS on April 7, 2025.
According to CBI investigation, a Rs 3,726.96-crore contract for the supply of 12 helicopters was awarded to UK-based AgustaWestland International Ltd. An agreement to this effect was executed on February 8, 2010 between the Ministry of Defence and AgustaWestland.
The agency had accused Michel, as a middleman, of paying large sums of bribes to IAF officers, Defence Ministry officials, bureaucrats and politicians via AgustaWestland. The agency alleged that undue favor was granted to AgustaWestland in lieu of the illegal gratification.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd