Christian Michel, the alleged middleman who has been chargesheeted in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal, will be represented by lawyer Aljo K Joseph.


Interestingly, Joseph is the National In-charge for the Indian Youth Congress legal department.


Aljo said his relation with the Congress was separate, while his profession was separate. He said he was requested to be counsel for Michel by a friend. "I'm an actively practicing advocate. I appeared for him (Christian Michel) in my professional capacity. If somebody asks me to appear on behalf of a client... I've only discharged my duty as a lawyer. It has nothing to do with Congress," Aljo told ANI.


Michel during questioning by the CBI complained of anxiety after which he was given medicine.

The government has said it was ready to provide consular access to the UK High Commission for Michel, who is a British citizen. "Yet until now the UK High Commission has not approached the MEA for the same. Due process will have to be followed and the CBI will have no objections. CBI has informed the family of Michel that he has been extradited to India in connection with the AgustaWestland case," government sources told the ANI.

Michel was brought to India late Tuesday night following his extradition by the UAE in connection with the case.


He was produced before Special CBI Judge Arvind Kumar which allowed discussions between him and his advocate for five minutes.


Michel's advocate asked the court to send him to judicial custody but the CBI sought his 14-days custodial interrogation to confront him with evidence and unearth the money trail in the scam.

However, the judge allowed CBI to interrogate Michel for five days in its custody.


Image: Christian Michel's lawyer Aljo Joseph.