Advocate Aljo Joseph, on behalf of Michel, pointed out that all the co-accused who were extradited in connection with the same offence, had since gotten bail while Michel has served 50 per cent of his sentence.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain, appearing for the central agencies, submitted that the allegations involve money laundering, collusion, illegal gratification, among others.
The bench then flagged the fact that the accused had been denied regular bail, and the probe as well as detention was still ongoing with no chargsheet having been filed.
“It cannot be open ended from your side. You must say a time (to complete probe),” Justice Narasimha said.
The ASG replied saying that custody would be necessary till the letters-rogatory are answered.
On the CJI’s question as to how Michel can claim that he is not a flight risk, Joseph argued that the agencies had thrice visited visited the accused in Dubai, where Michel had cooperated.
“When confessional statement was not given, they extradited me as a quid pro quo,” he said.
Further, it was pointed out that as per the extradition treaty with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), British nationals cannot be tried for offences apart from what he was extradited for.
The Court in its order said it was not able to accept the contentions of the petitioner.
Source: Barandbench
