SC TO HEAR BAIL PLEAS OF MICHEL IN VVIP CHOPPER CASE ON NOVEMBER 28

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that it will hear on November 28 the bail pleas of Christian Michel James, the alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland chopper scam in which CBI and the Enforcement Directorate have lodged two separate cases.

A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices Hima Kohli and J B Pardiwala said that the two separate bail pleas can be heard on Monday. A counsel for the probe agencies said that Additional Solicitor General S V Raju will be appearing in the matter and as he is travelling today, the hearing be adjourned.

Moreover, a letter seeking adjournment of the hearing has also been circulated, the lawyer said. “We will start on Monday and then keep it (the matter) as part heard,” the bench said.

Earlier in May this year, the top court had sought responses from the Central Bureau of Investigation and the ED on the bail pleas. The ₹3,600-crore alleged scam relates to the purchase of 12 VVIP helicopters from AgustaWestland.