New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate has filed a fresh chargesheet naming British national and alleged middleman Christian Michel James and some of his Indian associates in a money-laundering probe in connection with the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter deal.
The nearly 1,300-page prosecution complaint of the ED, the equivalent of a chargesheet, was filed in a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court earlier this week. It claims that the agency’s investigation has revealed that the euro 30 million (nearly Rs 225 crore) that Mr James received from M/s AgustaWestland were nothing but “kickbacks” paid for procuring the 12-helicopter deal for the firm in the guise of genuine transactions for performing multiple work contracts in India.
ED sources said the PMLA court is likely to take cognisance of the supplementary chargesheet soon. Mr James is one of three middlemen being probed by the ED and CBI; the other two are Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa. A red corner notice and non-bailable warrant have also been issued against Mr James.
The Indian firm and the two Indians named by the ED in its chargesheet are Media Exim Pvt. Ltd and its directors R.K. Nanda and J.B. Subramaniyam.
This is the second ED chargesheet. It details Mr James’ alleged role in the deal, his multiple visits to India and his transactions.
Filing a chargesheet against Mr James was necessary as the ED has sought his extradition from the UK and a court complaint against an accused is necessary in order to execute the extradition treaty between the two countries.
The chargesheet claims the three middlemen “managed” to make inroads into the Indian Air Force in order to influence and subvert the stand of the IAF regarding reducing the service ceiling of the helicopters from 6,000 metres to 4,500 metres in 2005, thereby making AgustaWestland eligible to supply the dozen helicopters meant for VVIP duty.
