Christian Michel, a central figure in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case, has escalated a petition in the Supreme Court, seeking immediate release from detention. Citing fundamental rights to life and freedom, the British citizen argues that his prolonged incarceration—spanning over five years—without the commencement of trial constitutes a violation of his rights under the Indian legal system.

The AgustaWestland case, mired in allegations of corruption and bribery, traces back to a 2007 contract signed by the Indian government for the procurement of 12 luxury helicopters designated for high-profile dignitaries, including the President, Prime Minister, and former prime ministers. 

However, the deal came under scrutiny when allegations surfaced that the supplier, AgustaWestland, a subsidiary of Finmeccanica, had engaged in illicit practices, including bribery, in both Italy and India.

Michel's involvement in the scandal as a middleman gained international attention, leading to his extradition from Dubai in 2017 after his arrest in the UAE. Since then, he has been detained in India awaiting trial. His petition emphasizes the disproportionate length of his pre-trial detention compared to the potential sentence he faces if found guilty—a maximum of five years—underscoring the apparent injustice of his continued confinement.

The legal battle surrounding the AgustaWestland case has also seen other significant developments, including the arrest of former Air Chief SP Tyagi in 2016. Tyagi, accused of accepting bribes to manipulate specifications in favor of the helicopter deal, became the first-ever military chief—former or current—to face such charges. The case has also drawn attention to alleged kickbacks and improprieties involving influential political figures.

In response to the allegations and mounting public pressure, the Indian government took decisive action, scrapping the helicopter deal in 2014 and initiating investigations by agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). 

The Congress party, which was in power at the time of the deal, has maintained that it took swift measures upon learning of potential wrongdoing, including blacklisting the involved companies and seizing their assets.