In what has become a startling development in one of India’s most high-profile defense corruption cases, a Delhi court has pulled up Tihar Jail authorities for their failure to produce a crucial inquiry file related to threats faced by Christian James Michel, the British national accused in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam.
On Monday, Special Judge Sanjay Jindal of the Rouse Avenue Court expressed “serious concern” over the untraceable inquiry report prepared back in 2019, after Michel had alleged that a fellow inmate attempted to poison him inside Tihar Jail. The court has now directed the Director General (Prisons) to submit the missing file or at least furnish a report explaining the circumstances behind its disappearance by July 7.
This incident not only raises questions about Michel’s safety while in custody but also highlights systemic failures within India’s prison administration, especially when it involves a foreign national embroiled in a sensitive international defense scandal.
The Backstory: AgustaWestland and Christian Michel
Christian Michel was extradited to India from Dubai on December 4, 2018, after spending four months in UAE custody. He is alleged to be the middleman in the ₹3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter scam, a deal involving the purchase of 12 luxury choppers for top Indian leaders from the UK-based firm.
Michel is facing prosecution under the Prevention of Corruption Act and money laundering charges brought forth by both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED). While he has been granted bail in both cases, he remains behind bars as legal technicalities—such as the difficulty in furnishing local sureties—continue to hinder his release.
Poisoning Allegation and the Missing File
In 2019, Michel raised a red flag when he alleged that Shahnawaz, a co-inmate with 41 misconduct charges and multiple criminal cases, attempted to poison him in Jail Number 1 of Tihar. The complaint was serious enough to be escalated to the British High Commission, prompting an internal inquiry.
According to jail authorities at the time, an investigation was carried out under the supervision of then DG (Prisons) Rajesh Chopra, and the conclusion drawn was that there was no threat to Michel’s life. Yet, troublingly, the original inquiry file has gone missing — an omission that the court has now deemed unacceptable.
“Let the Director General (Prisons), Tihar Jail, be asked to trace and produce the above inquiry file... If the file is still not traceable, a report regarding the facts and circumstances leading to the untraceability must be submitted,” said Judge Jindal.
The court also instructed jail authorities to take all necessary precautions for Michel’s safety, emphasizing that he should not face any form of intimidation or harm.
A Pattern of Negligence?
This isn't the first time the Delhi court has reprimanded jail officials over Michel’s treatment. In an earlier hearing, Judge Arun Bhardwaj had criticized the decision to lodge Michel with a hardened criminal, stating such actions “bring a bad name to the country.”
Despite claims from jail officials that Michel and Shahnawaz are now housed in separate jails, and that the former is safe, the unexplained disappearance of an official inquiry report only adds to the opacity and inefficiency that have plagued Michel’s detention.
Why This Matters
The missing report is not just a clerical error — it has profound implications for:
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Michel’s fundamental rights as a prisoner and foreign national
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India’s international reputation as a fair legal jurisdiction
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Transparency in high-stakes corruption investigations
That a sensitive document could disappear from one of India's most secure institutions suggests a disturbing lack of accountability. If such files can go missing in a high-profile international case, it raises worrying questions about the fate of evidence in less prominent cases involving Indian citizens.
Moreover, the fact that Michel continues to be in judicial custody despite being granted bail — due to the lack of a local surety — has drawn criticism from his legal team and human rights observers. The Delhi High Court recently relaxed his bail terms, allowing him to furnish a ₹5 lakh personal bond and ₹10 lakh cash surety, acknowledging the practical difficulties of a foreign national finding sureties in India.
A Test for India’s Legal and Penal Systems
This episode is a stress test for both India’s judicial system and its prison administration. How the government responds to the court’s July 7 deadline will likely set the tone for future cases involving foreign nationals and high-profile political corruption cases.
The AgustaWestland case has long been a symbol of political intrigue, defense kickbacks, and international legal cooperation. However, if it becomes synonymous with administrative apathy and procedural lapses, it may hurt not only the investigation but also India’s image as a reliable democracy governed by the rule of law.
Conclusion: Time for Accountability
As July 7 approaches, all eyes will be on Tihar Jail and the Directorate of Prisons. Whether or not they can retrieve the missing threat inquiry file, or at least convincingly explain its disappearance, will be a litmus test for institutional integrity in a case already mired in global scrutiny.
At the very least, this development should prompt a re-evaluation of prison oversight, record management, and inmate safety protocols—especially in cases involving whistleblowers, high-risk detainees, and foreign nationals.
If India is to maintain its credibility in handling transnational legal matters, such lapses cannot be allowed to repeat. The missing file might just be a symptom — the real disease could be far deeper.
