The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday issued orders for the provisional attachment of assets worth Rs.1.12 crore acquired by British national Christian Michel, an accused in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal case. The agency also recorded the statement of retired Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (Maintenance Command) Air Marshal Gautam Nayyar for suspected links with Mr. Michel, from whose Dubai-based firm Global Services he had allegedly received Rs.1 crore after retirement.
In a statement to the media, the Air Marshal denied any role in defence deals, including the VVIP chopper contract. The ED has reasons to believe that Mr. Michel financed the retired Air Force officer’s trips abroad with his family during 2010-2013.
According to the ED, the “benami assets” attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act include a flat in the posh Safdarjung Enclave area of South Delhi, a luxury car and about Rs.60 lakh in cash and bank deposits.
