The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a supplementary chargesheet against European middleman Christian Michel and others in connection with a money laundering case in the Rs 3,600-crore VVIP chopper deal.
According to the chargesheet, the probe has found that Michel received Euro 30 million (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland which was nothing but "kickbacks" paid by the firm to execute the 12 helicopter deal in favour of the firm in "guise of" of genuine transactions.
The over 1,300-page prosecution complaint (ED's equivalent for charge sheet) was placed before a special Prevention of Money laundering Act (PMlA) court here early this week. The court is likely to soon take cognisance of the supplementary charge sheet.
Michel is one of the three middlemen being probed in the case, apart from Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa, by the ED and the CBI and both the agencies have also notified an Interpol Red Corner Notice (RCN) against him. A non-bailable warrant against him is also pending. Michel was extensively interviewed by Indian media in Dubai recently and both the agencies want him to join the probe.
This is the second charge sheet filed in the case by ED which goes into the detailed role of Michel in the deal, his multiple visits to India and his transactions. The first charge sheet was filed by the agency in the case in November, 2014.
It is understood that filing a chargesheet against Michel was necessary as ED has sought his extradition from the UK. The chargesheet will help in the execution of the extradition treat between the two countries.
In the chargesheet, the ED has also brought on record that the three middlemen "managed to" make inroads into the Indian Air Force in order to influence and subvert the requirement of the Air Force with regard to the service ceiling of the helicopters from 6,000-meters to 4,500 meters in 2005 after which AgustaWestland became eligible to bid for the contract for supply of 12 VVIP helicopters.
ED investigations have found that remittances made by Michel through his Dubai-based firm Global Services, FZE to a media firm he floated in Delhi, along with two Indians, were made from the funds which he got from AgustaWestland SpA through "criminal activity" and corruption in the chopper deal that led to the subsequent generation of proceeds of crime.