The Delhi high court has dismissed a plea by Christian Michel James, the middleman in the 2010 AugustaWestland VVIP chopper deal, seeking release from prison. James had served the maximum sentence for the offences for which he was extradited.
A bench of justices Navin Chawla and Ravinder Dudeja said there was no merit in James's petition, dismissing it accordingly.
James had challenged Article 17 of the India-UAE extradition treaty, which allows prosecution for 'connected offences'. Advocate Aljo K Joseph, representing James, argued that he had undergone five years of sentence for the offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
However, Additional solicitor general DP Singh argued that James has not completed the maximum sentence, as he faces allegations of forgery, which is punishable with life imprisonment.
