Michel not kept in solitary confinement, Tihar authorities inform court

Tihar jail authorities on Monday submitted a report in the Patiala House court, denying that AgustaWestland scam accused Christian Michel was kept in solitary confinement.

In their reply, they stated that Michel's grievance has been duly addressed.

The court also allowed Michel's counsel Aljo K Joseph to meet him for a legal interview and return if required.

On March 16, the court had directed the jail authorities to submit CCTV footage containing visuals from February 13 to 17 of jail number 7 where Michel is lodged to ascertain allegations of torture and humiliation levelled by Michel.

On March 19, after accessing the CCTV footage given by the jail authorities, the court directed them to move Michel out of solitary confinement.

Earlier this month, the court had sought a reply from the Director General (DG) of Prison seeking directions to shift the accused from the high-security cell to a normal cell, after he contended that he had been kept in an isolation ward with Kashmiri terrorists and 160 other high-risk prisoners.

In its reply to the court, the Tihar Jail authorities while denying all the charges said that Michel has been granted all the facilities in accordance with the jail manual.

Showing a hard disc to the court containing the CCTV footage, the law officer had said: "The footage shows that he has been allowed to walk, access canteen and also meet other inmates."

Law officer of the jail also handed over a list of facilities being provided to Michel in a single cell in the jail. "This is not isolation as he goes out to eat and is allowed to meet other inmates," the authorities said.

Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) DP Singh told the court, "He is a foreigner brought through extradition. It is a responsibility of the country to ensure his security as per the treaty."

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 scam.