HC issues notice on jail plea against order allowing Michel to make phone calls

The Delhi High Court on Monday issued notice to Christian Michel, the alleged middleman in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal, and CBI on a plea of Tihar jail authorities challenging a trial court order allowing him to make international calls to his family, friends and lawyers for15 minutes per week.

A single judge bench of Justice Mukta Gupta issued notice and sought the reply of Michel and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after the jail authorities alleged that the accused made calls on numerous numbers in violation of the rules laid down in the prison manual.

The court posted the matter to April 22 for further hearing.

Advocate Avi Singh, the counsel for the jail, submitted that Michel made calls to numerous people but the prison manual only provided 10 minutes for the purpose.

He argued that Michel made the calls in violation of the rules.

In January this year, a CBI special court had granted permission to Michel to make international calls to speak to his family, friends and lawyers, giving him a 15-minute window for the purpose. It had passed the order on a petition filed Michel seeking permission for it.

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

While CBI is probing his alleged role as a "middleman" in the deal, ED is investigating money laundering charges against him.