In the 52-page supplementary charge sheets and 3,000 pages of documents, Michel's business partner Syms, and two firms Global Services FZE and Global Trade and Commerce Services have been named.
New Delhi: Based on the charge sheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Delhi's Patiala House Court on Saturday summoned AgustaWestland middleman Christian Michel’s business partner David Syms, Global Services FZE and Global Trade and Commerce Services. They have been ordered to appear in court on May 9. The ED also filed a fourth supplementary charge sheet in which many unexpected names have emerged.
According to the charge sheet, Michel had taken the name of 'AP', who it is believed is none other than senior Congress leader and current party treasurer Ahmed Patel.
Three additional charge sheets had already been filed. The supplementary charge sheet filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act stated that when the deal was going on, officials of the defence sector, bureaucrats, people from the media and the ruling party also received bribes.
The helicopters were purchased to enable VVIPs to travel across the country and according to the charge sheet, it cost Air Force officers, bureaucrats and politicians €3 million to ensure that the deal was made in favour of AgustaWestland. The charge sheet also mentions "meetings with the Italian woman's son".
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The ED also said that a person called 'RG' received Rs 62 crore between 2004 and 2016 in connection with AgustaWestland helicopter deal. The ED has interrogated a person named Rajat Gupta, who said that he had no knowledge about why he was named and added that only Sushen Mohan Gupta could understand it.
According to the ED, AgustaWestland middleman Sushen Mohan Gupta is not speaking the truth, and is not disclosing the real identity of 'RG'. Significantly, the court had earlier said that Mrs Gandhi's name had come up during Michel's interrogation. The charge sheet contains Michel's statement and an affidavit. Legal experts say that the charge sheet can increase difficulties for some politicians and former bureaucrats.
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In the 52-page supplementary charge sheets and 3,000 pages of documents, Michel's business partner Syms, and the two firms Global Services FZE and Global Trade and Commerce Services have been named. The charge sheet also alleged that Michel used senior Congress leaders to put pressure on the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Fifty-seven-year-old Michel was in a Dubai jail since his arrest in February 2017. He was detained in the UAE pending legal and judicial proceedings. India had made an official appeal in 2017 for the extradition of Michel. In this regard, necessary documents were also submitted to a court in the UAE. Michel is now in Indian custody.
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