New Delhi: Investigations by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into the money trail of the alleged kickbacks in the multi-crore AgustaWestland helicopter deal have revealed that British national and alleged middleman in the case, Christian Michel James, used his more than ‘ten overseas numbers’ to remain in touch with his contacts in India.
Sources said through these numbers Michel remained in constant touch with his India-based associates and used to get regular updates about their activities. Sources said that these numbers included +6597330898, +33618262994, +6597337898, +971561480135, +971501409344, +477-88723371, +715-08829191 and + 478-41374332.
It has also been revealed that the British national was also keen to get details about certain government payments made to the Anglo-Italian defence manufacturer. The ED, which recently filed a supplementary charge-sheet in the case, also said that Michel was curious if some particular documents had reached the CBI.
Michel was last dropped by his driver Narayan Bahadur on February 12, 2013 at the Indira Gandhi International airport here after he which he probably never returned to India.
Sources said Michel was also associated with a London-based educational trust which offered scholarships to Indian students studying abroad.
“The ED is scrutinising bank account details of certain Indian nationals who were associated with this trust and were also in touch with Michel,” sources said.
The ED has sought extradition of Michel on charges of money laundering. Sometime back, both the ED and CBI, which is also investigating the case, had got an Interpol warrant issued against Michel.
