Midnight operation under Doval’s command

The alleged middleman in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland chopper deal, Christian Michel, was brought to India late Tuesday night following his extradition by the UAE.

The operation code-named 'Unicorn' was carried out under the guidance of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and being coordinated by interim CBI Director M Nageswar Rao, a CBI spokesperson, Abhishek Dayal, said.

"Under the guidance of Ajit Doval, National Security Advisor (NSA), the entire operation is being coordinated by in-charge Director CBI M Nageswara Rao," he added.

The UAE authorities sent him to New Delhi on a private jet. Michel landed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on a Gulfstream jet at 2235 hours.

A non-bailable warrant has been issued against Michel and he will be taken for medical examination today. The 57-year-old British national is also expected to be produced in court today.

"A team lead by A. Sai Manohar, Joint Director in CBI has been to Dubai for the purpose," the CBI added.

A team of the agency's officers led by Joint Director Sai Manohar was in Dubai to bring him back.

The agency said that Michel has been brought back to India after completion of the extradition process.

The UAE government had cleared the extradition of 57-year-old Michel after his appeal against the move was turned down by a court there.

Michel's alleged involvement in the chopper deal surfaced in 2012 as a middleman for swinging the deal in favour of AgustaWestland and for making illegal payment of commissions or kickbacks to the Indian authorities, CBI spokesperson said.

Michel was wanted for investigation but he escaped and had avoided joining the probe.

A charge sheet was filed against him in September last year.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said the extradition in the case from the UPA era was a diplomatic victory for India and could spell "serious trouble" for the Congress party's "first family", referring to Gandhis

"An open non-bailable arrest warrant dated September 24, 2015, was issued by the special judge, CBI cases, Patiala House Courts, New Delhi," a CBI spokesperson said.

On the basis of this warrant, a Red Corner Notice was issued by the Interpol which led to his arrest in Dubai in February 2017.

Michel was behind bars in Dubai since he was arrested and sent to custody pending the legal and judicial procedure in the UAE.

The Dubai Court of Cassation had earlier dismissed the two objections filed by Michel's lawyers and upheld the appellate court's decision to consider the possibility of extraditing him to the competent Indian authorities.

It was alleged that he had entered into a criminal conspiracy with co-accused persons, which included the then IAF chief SP Tyagi and his family members, and the public servants had abused their official positions by reducing service ceiling of the VVIPs helicopter from 6,000 metres to 4,500 metres.