Chopper scam: Will file supplementary charge sheet, CBI tells court

The CBI told a Delhi court Wednesday that it will file a supplementary charge sheet in the AgustaWestland chopper scam since sufficient evidence attributing criminality to more public servants and private persons has surfaced during the ongoing probe.

It made the submissions before Special Judge Arvind Kumar while opposing the bail application moved by British national Christian Michel, the alleged middleman arrested in the case.

The CBI told the court that Michel was further required for confrontation with certain witnesses and suspects and there was "reasonable apprehension" of his exercising influence over the witnesses and tampering with evidence if released on bail.

"During the course of investigation, copies of classified/ secret official documents of Indian Air Force (IAF)/ Ministry of Defence (MoD) such as Operational Requirements for VVIP helicopters before issuance of Request of Proposal and other incriminating documents running into more than one lakh pages received from Italy and Switzerland," the agency said.

It also told the court that it has to probe a 'payment sheet' recovered from one of the accused, prepared on the dictation of Michel.

According to the sheet, "An amount of Euro 30 million was paid/ proposed to be paid to the officers of IAF, MoD, bureaucrats, politicians and family in India for showing favour in the VVIP helicopter deal."
The CBI added that there was grave apprehension of his fleeing from justice and not being available for the trial and probe. "Michel is a British national, having no roots in India."
Michel was involved in a "grave economic offence", it said. "He is a key link to unearth the modus operandi and there is ample evidence on record to link accused to the commission of the offence herein, and his release on bail would adversely affect further investigation to unearth the deep rooted multi-layered conspiracy."