AgustaWestland: Middleman Christian Michel’s CBI custody further extended by 4 days

The Special CBI Court today further extended the CBI custody of businessman Christian Michel, the alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland case, by another four days..The extension was granted by CBI Judge Arvind Kumar after examining the case diary in the matter..“Keeping in view the facts and circumstances, submissions made by the parties, I deem it fit to grant further 4 days PC remand of the accused. Accordingly, the accused is remanded to PC for 4 days.”, he recorded..Special Prosecutor DP Singh sought for a five-days’ extension of Michel’s custody to further interrogate him and confront him with documents received from different countries pursuant to the Agency’s Letter of Requests..Singh also stated that the Agency needed to take Michel to Pawan Hans India’s premises in Mumbai to investigation his role in negotiation to buyback the WG-30 helicopters..Claiming that Michel writes “painfully slow“, Singh also stated that custody must be extended to enable it secure more specimen of Michel’s handwriting..Any further extension of custody was opposed by Michel’s counsel, Advocate Aljo K Joseph who argued that there was no incriminating evidence against Michel..Apart from Aljo, Michel’s Italian lawyer, Rosemary Patrizi was also present before the Court..Singh raised strong objections to Patrizi making statements before media channels after coming to India. He also objected to Patrizi representing Michel by claiming that “she is an in-house kind of lawyer” and Michel’s confidant..CBI Judge, however, confirmed her credentials as an advocate by examining the documents produced by her..The Court, however, refused to allow Patrizi to visit Michel in custody, along with her Indian counterpart Aljo K Joseph, after the request was strongly opposed by CBI. Patrizi was nonetheless allowed to speak with Michel for 10 minutes in the Courtroom itself..Joseph also sought for the court’s permission to execute Michel’s power of attorney in Patrizi’s name to initiate appropriate proceedings to quash the red corner notice issued by Interpol..The Court also agreed to hear Michel’s bail Application on December 19 while asking the Agency to file its reply to the plea..Meanwhile, Court’s order allowing Joseph or his associates, Advocate Vishnu Shankar or Advocate Sriram Parakkat to meet Michel for half an hour each in the morning and evening, would remain in force..After being extradited from Dubai earlier this month, Michel was arrested by the CBI upon his arrival and sent to five days’ CBI custody on December 5. The custody was further extended by five days on December 10. .Read the order: