CBI takes custody of Augusta middle-man

New Delhi: British national Christian Michel James, the middleman wanted in Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal case, was extradited to India Tuesday night from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He was taken straight to the CBI headquarters from the airport here.

The extradition comes as a major boost to the Indian agencies investigating the bribery angle in the contract.

Once the immigration process was over at the airport, he was escorted by a Delhi Police team to the CBI headquarters in south Delhi’s Lodhi Road area for interrogation over his alleged role in the purchase of 12 AW-101 VVIP choppers from AgustaWestland.

James would be confronted with documents indicating the bribes paid by James to the Indian authorities for securing the contract for the supply of VVIP helicopters.

James, who had been avoiding criminal proceedings in India, is likely to be presented at a special CBI court in Delhi’s Patiala House court Wednesday afternoon.

The extradition operation was conducted under the guidance of National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and interim CBI Director Rao.

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