UN group asks for Michel’s release, India snubs opinion
Hours after foreign media reports that the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) has concluded that British alleged middleman Christian James Michel was being detained arbitrarily in India, New Delhi on Friday evening “rejected the opinion rendered by the Working Group”, and “regretted that the conclusions drawn by the Working Group are based on limited information, biased allegations from an unidentified source and on an inaccurate understanding of India’s criminal justice system”. Slamming the “selective leaks” of the WGAD opinion “even before its official release” in this case, India also said the “allegations which form the basis of the opinion rendered by the Working Group are contrary to facts”, adding that “the Working Group is not a judicial body, and therefore, its opinions are not legally binding on the Member States”.
It may be recalled that in December, 2018, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had extradited Michel to India in the `3,546 crore Agusta-Westland VVIP chopper deal case. Michel was reportedly wanted on charges of alleged money laundering, bribery and fraud in connection with the cancelled deal. India had subsequently granted Britain consular access to Michel who is a British national. New Delhi said on Friday that the “extradition was done entirely in accordance with the provisions of the Extradition Treaty signed between two sovereign States”, adding that the “arrest and subsequent custody were done as per the due process of law and cannot be considered arbitrary on any grounds”. New Delhi pointed out that the Indian Government had “provided timely information on this issue to the Working Group in June 2020, at their request”.
In a statement, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) said, “At no time was the accused (Michel) denied his rights to legal counsel or a fair hearing. The fact that he has been able to approach Courts on multiple occasions including the higher judiciary is itself proof of this. There have also been no restrictions on consular access by the authorities. He has been treated at par as other detainees and provided all facilities by the prison authorities as per rules.”
It may be recalled that the controversial defence deal — with Italian-owned UK-based company AgustaWestland for the procurement of 12 AW-101 helicopters for VVIP use that was inked by India in February, 2010 — was cancelled by the previous UPA-2 Government in its final few months in power.