AgustaWestland case: Court allows ED to interrogate Christian Michel for two days

A Delhi Court on Tuesday allowed the Enforcement Directorate to quiz AgustaWestland deal 'middleman' Christian Michel for two days.

Special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Judge Arvind Kumar allowed financial investigators to question Michel tomorrow (Wednesday) and day after tomorrow (Thursday). "ED can question him on both days from 10:30 am to 12:30pm and again from 2:30pm to 4:30pm," the judge added.

During the course of hearing, Michel's counsel Aljo K Joseph raised an objection over the plea filed by the ED saying his client is "medically unfit" to participate in the investigation.

"He is not in a position both mentally and physically to be questioned. No canteen access to him, he is not being given food. It is their pressure tactic," Joseph claimed.

The financial investigators had requested the court to let them confront him with fresh documents to further record his statement.

"After the said Accused was remanded to judicial custody, certain subsequent facts and developments have come to the knowledge of the ED through examination of witness and procurement of certain documents," the plea from the ED contended.

Michel, who was extradited from the UAE in December last year, is currently lodged in Tihar Jail in connection with the CBI and ED cases against him related to the AgustaWestland deal.

On Monday, the ED attached a Paris-based property of Michel's former wife.