Wed Apr 16 20:33:00 UTC 2025: ## Delhi Court Reprimands Tihar Jail Over AgustaWestland Middleman’s Safety Concerns
**New Delhi, April 17, 2025** – A Delhi court has sharply criticized Tihar Jail authorities for failing to ensure the safety and security of Christian Michel James, a British national and alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam. The court’s rebuke follows an application by James citing concerns about his safety, including allegations of poisoning and threats.
Special Judge Sanjeev Aggarwal of the Rouse Avenue Court demanded a detailed report from the jail authorities by April 29th, and ordered the Tihar Jail superintendent to personally appear at subsequent hearings. The judge’s action was prompted by revelations that James is housed in the same barrack as an undertrial prisoner with 41 disciplinary complaints against him.
James, extradited from Dubai in December 2018, has been held in Tihar Jail since. He alleges that his tea has been poisoned and that his life is in danger. The court also ordered the jail to provide James with a table fan, a request previously approved but not fulfilled.
The AgustaWestland case involves a €556.262 million deal for VVIP helicopters, with the CBI alleging a loss of approximately ₹2,666 crore (€398.21 million) to the Indian exchequer. The Enforcement Directorate, in a separate chargesheet, claims James received €30 million (approximately ₹225 crore) from AgustaWestland. Two other alleged middlemen, Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa, are also involved in the ongoing investigation.
First Piper 