Christian Michel’s children write to PM Modi asking for release of their father

LONDON: The three children of AugustaWestland helicopter rip-off accused Christian Michel, a British nationwide incarcerated in India as an undertrial for seven years, have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi pleading for his unconditional discharge. Modi left Wednesday for London the place he’s anticipated to signal a free commerce pact on Thursday.Michel has been in Tihar jail since Dec 2018 when he was extradited to India from Dubai.In a letter to PM Modi, his son Alois writes on behalf of his brother Alaric and sister Alienor that subsequent week his father will full seven years in Tihar jail with out trial, which quantities to the utmost penalty for the offences he’s accused of. “After 12 years of investigation, Indian authorities have failed to bring my father to trial,” hehas written, describing this size of time in detention with out trial being “a gross violation of human rights”.He factors out Britain is a rustic which is pleasant in the direction of India. “Our father is entitled to an immediate, unconditional discharge,” he writes.Michel, in the meantime, has penned a letter from Tihar to UK PM Keir Starmer, wherein he writes: “ If I am not released next week then it is illegal detention.” He says that attempting him for the identical crime in India, that he was exonerated for by the courts in Italy, is “double jeopardy”, and including additional offences to these he already faces, because the Indian govt has performed, is a breach of extradition legal guidelines.Alois has additionally written to UK international secretary David Lammy criticising the British govt for not making use of efficient strain on India. “Our father has been subject to torture and attempts on his life have been made in the prison. It has not gone unnoticed that the British govt has been rushing to secure a trade deal with Mr Narendra Modi, without any concern for human rights of a British citizen. In what way is our father’s case different from the many the British govt has forcefully taken up with other govts,” he asks.Michel is accused of bribing and criminally conspiring with Indian officers to win a contract on behalf of British helicopter producer AgustaWestland, now renamed Leonardo’s Helicopters, for 12 VVIP helicopters in 2010 and receiving €30m for securing the deal. He denies the costs.