The Dubai government has passed the order to extradite the alleged middleman in the VVIP chopper scam, Christian Michel, as reported by Economic Times.
Christian Michel had filed a plea in the Dubai High Court against his extradition which was rejected by the court. The court had granted approval to India’s request of extradition. As per information, Michel is likely to be brought to India this week.
The representatives of India are reportedly already in Dubai to complete the legal formalities. After coming to India, Michel will be formally arrested and will be produced before Patiala House Court in Delhi for custodial interrogation.
An extradition request was submitted by the Indian authorities to Dubai public prosecution in February 2017. Michel is accused of organising bribes in exchange for a contract for the purchase of 12 VVIP helicopters to be used by leaders including President, Prime Minister and former Prime Ministers. The Indian authorities have levelled charges of money laundering, commercial fraud, and bribery against him. He is accused by the Indian authorities of being a middleman in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam which was worth Rs 3,600-crore.
Names of several politicians and celebrity journalists had cropped up for accepting large sums of money as bribes in relation to the Augusta Westland scam. It was alleged that a total of 360 crore rupees were paid as bribes to various persons and entities in India.
