AgustaWestland case: Court extends Christian Michel's CBI remand by 5 days

Christian Michel, the alleged middleman in AgustaWestland case, has been sent to 5 days of remand by a CBI Special Court. According to reports, Michel was produced before Special CBI Judge Arvind Kumar today after the expiry of his five-day CBI remand.

The CBI said that Michel did not cooperate with the investigation. 

"We need to confront him with LR (letters rogatory) that have been received from five countries and Christian Michel didn't co-operate with Italian investigation in the case," the CBI said. 

On CBI application seeking specimen of handwriting and signature, the Special CBI Court has asked Michel's counsel to file a reply. The court will hear this application on Tuesday, ANI reported. 

Meanwhile, the CBI has agreed to give British High Commission access to Christian Michel. 

"We have already been approached by British counsellors. We have allowed their plea of keeping their own counsel," the CBI said.

The probe agency sought nine days further remand of Michel for his custodial interrogation saying he was not cooperating in the investigation of the case, news agency PTI reported. 

Michel's counsel opposed the CBI plea for further custody saying it was not required as no incriminating evidence has been shown to him till now.

At the outset, Michel withdrew his earlier bail plea and filed fresh detailed bail application.

Michel, who is a citizen of the United Kingdom, was brought to India on the night of December 4, following his extradition by the UAE in connection with the case and later produced before the court which had allowed his five-day custodial interrogation by the CBI.

Christian Michel, the alleged middleman, has been charge-sheeted in the graft-tainted AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal.