Thu May 29 08:52:03 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and rewrite of the provided text as a news article, incorporating the Indian perspective implied by the source:

**Summary:**

The Supreme Court of India has dismissed a plea by Christian Michel James, an alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland money laundering case. James, a British national, challenged a Delhi High Court order requiring him to provide details of his intended residence post-bail. James argued he couldn’t provide a local address as he’s been incarcerated in Tihar Jail for over six years and lacks Indian ties. The court was unsympathetic, pointing to his ability to instruct lawyers and suggesting his family or the British High Commission could assist. The court essentially stated that he may be required to wait in prison, since no address has been provided. The AgustaWestland case involves alleged kickbacks in the purchase of VVIP helicopters, causing significant financial losses to the Indian exchequer.

**News Article:**

**Supreme Court Rejects AgustaWestland Middleman’s Plea Over Address Requirement**

*New Delhi, May 29, 2025* – The Supreme Court of India today dismissed a plea filed by Christian Michel James, a British national and key figure in the ongoing ₹3,600-crore AgustaWestland money laundering case. James had challenged a Delhi High Court order demanding he provide a local address as a condition of his bail.

James, accused of being a middleman in the controversial deal to purchase VVIP helicopters, argued that his prolonged incarceration in Tihar Jail, spanning over six years, has left him without a fixed residence in India. His lawyer stated that James couldn’t fulfill the address requirement before being released.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sanjay Kumar expressed skepticism. “We granted you bail, and you don’t even want to fulfill a condition of providing a local address,” the bench observed. The Court also questioned why if James was able to instruct his lawyers, his family or the British High Commission could not assist in securing a local address.

The rejection of James’ plea underscores the Indian judiciary’s firm stance on enforcing bail conditions in high-profile corruption cases. The AgustaWestland deal has been a subject of intense scrutiny in India, with allegations of bribery and kickbacks causing substantial losses to the public treasury.

James was extradited from Dubai in 2018 and has been in custody since. He is accused of receiving €30 million in illicit payments related to the helicopter deal. The CBI alleges that the AgustaWestland deal, signed in 2010, resulted in an estimated loss of ₹2,666 crore to the exchequer.

The Supreme Court’s decision implies that James will remain in custody until he can satisfy the High Court’s bail condition regarding a local address. The case continues to be a focal point in India’s fight against corruption and efforts to bring those involved in the AgustaWestland scandal to justice.

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