The Supreme Court on Friday granted the Union Government three weeks to file its counter affidavit in the plea filed by alleged AgustaWestland middleman Christian Michel James, who has challenged his continued incarceration in the ₹3,600-crore VVIP helicopter procurement case.
The matter is listed for further hearing on August 25, 2026. Appearing for the Union, Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju sought three weeks’ time to file a counter affidavit, submitting that the matter would require examination of certain factual aspects as well as Sections 17 and 21 of the India-UAE Extradition Treaty.
Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta directed the respondents to file their reply within three weeks, making it clear that no further extension would be granted.
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“Three weeks and no more time to file counter.”
Background of the Case
The case stems from allegations of corruption in the 2010 AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter deal, in which the CBI and Enforcement Directorate allege that Michel acted as one of the middlemen who received illegal kickbacks to influence the procurement of 12 helicopters for the Government of India.
Christian Michel, a British national extradited from Dubai in December 2018, has challenged the Delhi High Court’s April 8 judgment rejecting his plea for release from jail. He contends that his continued detention is illegal as he has already undergone the maximum sentence prescribed for the offences for which he was extradited. He also assails Article 17 of the India-UAE Extradition Treaty, arguing that under the doctrine of speciality, he can only be prosecuted for the offences for which extradition was granted and not for “connected offences.”
The Delhi High Court had rejected both contentions, holding that Article 17 permits prosecution for connected offences and that Michel was not entitled to release under Section 436A CrPC (now Section 479 BNSS), particularly in view of the charge under Section 467 IPC, which carries a maximum punishment of life imprisonment.