NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a plea filed by the British national Christian Michel James, who challenged the Delhi High Court's May 22 order directing him to furnish details of the local address where he intended to reside post-release on bail in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland money laundering case.
James is alleged to be a middleman.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sanjay Kumar declined to entertain the plea.
During the course of the hearing, the lawyer, appearing for the Enforcement Directorate (ED), said the high court's order was in favour of James.
Upon this, the court sought to know from James that what was the problem then.
"Which is the condition which is hurting you," the bench asked the lawyer appearing for James.
His lawyer replied that the HC's one of the conditions was, James had to provide a local address for his releasing on bail.
"I have been inside Tihar Jail for last six years and six months. I don't have any local address," the counsel said, adding that James was a British national. He said James cannot fulfil this condition unless he comes out of jail.
When his lawyer further argued that the instructions were given by James' family, the bench observed, "Dismissed".
"You have a permanent address inside the Tihar jail. You stay there only. What to do," the bench said.
On February 18, 2025, the Supreme Court granted bail to James, accused in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP Chopper corruption scam case during the UPA regime.
