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Dubai court allows extradition of Christian Michel, middleman in VVIP chopper scam

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Dubai court allows extradition of Christian Michel, middleman in VVIP chopper scam

Michel, along with former Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi and others, is a key accused in the Rs 3700 AgustaWestland chopper scandal, he was arrested in UAE last year

In a major boost for the Narendra Modi government, a court in Dubai has given its nod for the extradition of Christian Michel, the British middleman in the AgustaWestland chopper scandal of 2007.

Though the Indian government is yet to receive any official communication from authorities concerned in the UAE government regarding the extradition, sources say that the investigative agencies in New Delhi have accessed a copy of the Dubai court’s order and are getting it translated from Arabic to English. The investigative agencies are expected to take up the matter with the authorities concerned in the Indian external affairs ministry as well as with the Prime Minister’s Office and press for urgent action.

Michel had been arrested in the UAE last year and was facing extradition proceedings in the country. He is wanted in India for allegedly organising bribes in exchange for a contract for VVIP helicopters. Former Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi and several of his relatives are, alongwith Michel, named as the key accused in the high-profile defense sector scandal that had broken out during the UPA regime. Tyagi had recently been granted bail in the case by a Delhi court.

The AgustaWestland case involves a 2007 contract signed by the UPA government for the purchase of 12 luxury helicopters for use by top leaders, including the President, Prime Minister and former prime ministers of India. In 2014, the UPA government had scrapped the contract amid allegations that the supplier AgustaWestland, whose parent company Finmeccanica ran into allegations of bribe-giving in Italy, had paid kickbacks in India.

According to a report in The Hindu, the Dubai court found merit in the arguments made in favour of India’s request for Michel’s extradition, disallowing the defence’s contentions on various counts. The agencies are, however, yet to completely examine the court order.

Michel, a British national, is alleged to have received Euro 30 million (around Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland for his role as the middleman entrusted with ensuring that the VVIP chopper deal was executed without any hurdles. He is said to have influenced the decision to reduce the service ceiling of helicopters from 6,000 metres to 4,500 metres in 2005, which had made AgustaWestland eligible for the contract with the Indian government.

The Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate had earlier filed charge sheets in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam, naming Michel as one of the alleged middlemen through whom bribes were paid by AgustaWestland to bag the deal for supply of 12 helicopters to India. The ED charge sheet reportedly alleges that remittances made by Michel through his Dubai-based firm Global Services FZE to a media firm in Delhi, floated by him along with two Indians, were from the funds received from AgustaWestland.

It may be recalled that former Air Chief Tyagi was arrested in 2016 over allegations that he accepted bribes to tailor specifications at the instance of his cousins. He became the first ever military chief – former or current – to be arrested. The BJP has, however, maintained that the scam was executed at the highest levels of the UPA government, which had been battling a series of scams through its second term in office between 2009 and 2014, and that Tyagi was only being made a scapegoat to shield top Congress leaders.

Earlier in July this year, the Michel’s lawyer had said he was being pressured by Indian agencies to frame former Congress president Sonia Gandhi in the case in return for exoneration from criminal proceedings. The CBI had predictably refuted the allegation.

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India hits back at Shehbaz Sharif at UN, says terror will have consequences

India hit back at Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s UN speech, with New Delhi warning that terrorism will have consequences.

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India has responded to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s remarks at the United Nations, delivering a strong message on terrorism and warning that such actions will have consequences.

The response came after Mr Sharif addressed the UN and raised issues concerning India and Pakistan. New Delhi rejected the narrative presented by the Pakistani prime minister and highlighted the issue of terrorism.

India’s message was delivered by Petal Gehlot, who represented New Delhi in the response to Pakistan.

India warns Pakistan over terrorism

India’s response focused on Pakistan’s record and its approach towards terrorism. New Delhi made clear that terrorism cannot be separated from its consequences and that those responsible cannot expect such actions to go unanswered.

The Indian side also pushed back against the claims and allegations made by Mr Sharif during his UN speech.

The exchange comes amid continuing tensions between India and Pakistan, with terrorism remaining a major point of disagreement between the two countries.

Shehbaz Sharif’s UN remarks

In his address, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke about India-Pakistan relations and raised several issues concerning New Delhi.

India subsequently exercised its right of reply to respond to Pakistan’s statements at the United Nations.

New Delhi’s response underlined its position that terrorism remains a serious issue in the relationship and that there would be consequences for terrorist actions.

The latest exchange at the UN adds to the continuing diplomatic confrontation between the two neighbouring countries.

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Veeramani POCSO case: Vijay questions Stalin over earlier probe

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has questioned MK Stalin over the handling of the Veeramani POCSO case, while Stalin has rejected allegations that the previous DMK government protected anyone.

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Actor Vijay

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president C Joseph Vijay has questioned DMK president MK Stalin over the handling of the POCSO case involving Gem Granites founder R Veeramani. The political exchange follows renewed investigation into allegations involving minor girls.

Vijay’s remarks came as the ruling TVK stepped up its questions about how the case was handled during the previous DMK government. The party’s IT wing has alleged that the earlier investigation was weakened and questioned why a final report was filed.

The allegations have been rejected by the DMK. Stalin has said that no order was issued by the DMK government to protect anyone in the case and has called the allegations false and defamatory.

What did Vijay say about the Veeramani case?

Vijay questioned Stalin over the handling of the case and demanded an explanation from the former chief minister.

The TVK has specifically questioned why action was not taken against Veeramani during the previous administration and why the earlier investigation resulted in a closure report.

The party has also raised questions about the role of officials involved in the earlier investigation. These are political allegations made by the TVK and have not been established as facts.

What is the Veeramani POCSO case?

The case concerns allegations of sexual abuse of minors involving R Veeramani, the founder of Gem Granites.

The case came under renewed scrutiny after a special POCSO court rejected an earlier closure report and ordered further investigation. The expanded probe has subsequently identified additional alleged survivors who were minors at the time of the alleged offences, according to current reporting.

The investigation is also examining the circumstances surrounding the earlier probe and whether there were any lapses in how the case was handled.

What has MK Stalin said?

Stalin has rejected allegations that the previous DMK government protected Veeramani.

He has said that no order was issued by the DMK government to shield anyone in the case. Stalin has also said that everyone responsible for the alleged offences, including anyone who aided or attempted to protect the accused, should face the law.

The DMK president has further said that the focus should remain on securing justice for the affected girls rather than making political allegations.

Why has the case become a political issue?

The Veeramani case has become the subject of a political dispute between the ruling TVK and the DMK over the handling of the earlier investigation.

The TVK is questioning the previous government’s handling of the case, while the DMK has denied that it intervened to protect the accused.

At this stage, claims about political interference or deliberate weakening of the earlier investigation should be treated as allegations unless established by the ongoing investigation or judicial proceedings.

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Women wrestlers challenge Brij Bhushan’s acquittal in sexual harassment case

Four women wrestlers have challenged the acquittal of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and co-accused Vinod Tomar in a sexual harassment case.

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Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

Four women wrestlers have approached a Delhi court challenging the acquittal of former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a sexual harassment case.

The wrestlers have also challenged the acquittal of co-accused Vinod Tomar. The matter is scheduled to be heard by a Special Judge at the Rouse Avenue Courts.

The appeal challenges the order passed by an Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate on August 3, 2026, when Brij Bhushan and Tomar were acquitted in the case.

Wrestlers challenge court’s reasoning

In their appeal, the wrestlers have argued that the acquittal order is legally unsustainable and that the evidence was not assessed appropriately.

They have also alleged that the order relied on assumptions about how victims of sexual assault and harassment were expected to behave instead of assessing the evidence and circumstances of the complainants.

The challenge seeks judicial scrutiny of the findings that resulted in the acquittal of Brij Bhushan and Tomar.

Brij Bhushan was acquitted in August

The Rouse Avenue court acquitted Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on August 3 in the sexual harassment case involving women wrestlers. The court’s decision followed consideration of the evidence and statements presented during the proceedings.

The case had emerged after several women wrestlers accused the former WFI chief of sexual harassment. The allegations had led to a major protest by wrestlers in 2023.

The latest appeal means the acquittal is now being challenged before a higher court.

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