Interpol issues Red Corner Notice against chopper deal suspect

Interpol has issued a Red Corner Notice against British national Christian Michel, an alleged middleman, in connection with the Rs.3,600 crore VVIP AgustaWestland chopper deal case.

Officials in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said the Interpol headquarters in France issued the Red Corner Notice against Michel on the request of the agency.

The move comes over two months after a Delhi court issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against the 54-year-old Michel.

Michel is facing charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating, illegal gratification and abuse of official position for allegedly acting as middleman to influence the decision to purchase 12 VVIP choppers from AgustaWestland.

CBI officials said immigration authorities have been requested to issue a lookout circular against Michel in view of the Interpol notice.

The CBI on March 13, 2013 registered a first information report against former Indian Air Force chief S.P. Tyagi and others in the chopper deal case.

Firms Finmeccanica, AgustaWestland, IDS Infotech Ltd. (India) and Aeromatrix India were also booked as accused in the case.

Bribery allegations in the Rs.3,600 crore deal for 12 AW-101 choppers were being probed by the central investigating agency.

Michel was working as an middleman for this deal for Finmeccanica, a group firm of AgustaWestland.