Will join investigation if shifted to another cell: Michel bargains with Delhi Court

AgustaWestland deal 'middleman' Christian Michel on Tuesday told a Delhi Court that he would join the investigation if he was shifted to another cell in Tihar Jail.

"If your honour wishes me to join the investigation, I will joint it but in return, I may be moved to a different cell," Michel told Special CBI Judge Arvind Kumar during today's hearing.

Michel also told the court that then CBI senior official Rakesh Asthana had warned him that his life would be made hell if he comes back to India. "It has become true," he said.

Michel had on Monday contended that he has been kept in an isolation ward, along with a Kashmiri terrorist and 160 other inmates. In his letter, Michel also stated that such an act by the jail authorities without the due process of law is "illegal, arbitrary and highly condemnable".

"Earlier I was kept with white-collar criminals. Now, I have been kept with murderers. Not that I have anything against murder convicts. But I don't think I should be made to stay with them," Michel told the court today.

However, Tihar Jail authorities said no Kashmir or Pakistan-based terror suspects are in the same ward as Michel. "Their allegation is wrong. All Pakistani and Jammu and Kashmir inmates have been moved to another jail a month ago. He (Michel) has been provided a single cell for his convenience. If we put more inmates, they will later come and say that Michel is being put to inconvenience," the jail authorities added.

Kumar, after hearing the submissions, directed jail authorities to furnish a detailed report with all records over the allegations made by Michel regarding torture and humiliation in Tihar Jail. The court also sought a recording of CCTV cameras of the last 5 days from Tihar jail authorities.

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.