Amit Shah targets Congress over the party’s attempt to influence Christian Michel’s interrogation

The Enforcement Directorate on Saturday told Delhi Patiala High Court that Christian Michel, the accused in AgustaWestland VIP chopper scam case, made references like “Mrs Gandhi and son of Italian lady, he will become the next PM of India and big man R.” The court granted seven days of further custodial interrogation of Michel. 

The special public prosecutor Davinder Pal Singh also revealed to court that Christian Michel was caught “red-handed” passing a piece of paper while shaking hands with his lawyer. When the agency checked the paper, it had “the typed form of questions to be asked”. The ED in its remand application maintained that the paper “pertained to a set of questions with regard to follow up questions on Mrs Gandhi.” The agency demanded lawyer’s access to Michel to be withdrawn. The ED said, “It is clear that there is a conspiracy to shield and/or to tamper with evidence that could be brought forth from the questioning of the accused herein”. It further alleged that the benefit given by Court to the accused Christian Michel is being misused by him and needs to be put to an end. To which, the court responded that the lawyer- Aljo Jospeh- can meet Michel for 15 minutes in the morning and the evening instead of the usual one hour-long meet, but will have to maintain a three-feet distance.

The BJP chief Amit Shah also attacked the Congress party on Monday on this blatant attempt to influence the investigation process in order to shield ‘Mrs. Gandhi’. He asked, “Does anyone know why Christian Michel passed on the details of questioning on Mrs. Gandhi to his Lawyer?” Amit Shah also asked, “Did he want them to be passed on to Mrs. Gandhi herself? Why?”

Amit Shah further stated, “Michel’s lawyer has admitted that the paper was indeed passed on to him. He thought that it was a list of medicines, which could have been transparently given in any case.” Making clear reference to ‘The Family’, Amit Shah quipped, “We have heard of Zandu Balm and Tiger Balm but what is this ‘Family Balm’ that every middleman wants?”

Amit Shah also took a dig at the background of Michel’s counsel, Aljo Joseph who was National in-charge of Youth Congress and only resigned after the media furor over the issue of him representing Christian Michel.

Amit Shah appealed to the lawyer of Michel to tell about the existence of documents of 2008, which make a reference to Mrs. Gandhi. In conclusion, he added, “Evidently, the friendship between Michel and one family in India is time-tested and deep.”

AgustaWestland scam has become albatross around the neck of the Congress. Troubles for the Congress party are mounting with every passing day. The timing could not be worse for the Congress. All the fresh revelations made by Michel are only going to add to the embarrassment of the Congress party ahead of crucial 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The revelations would give the BJP an issue to target the Congress party that too based on solid evidences.  It is no exaggeration to say that fresh revelations coupled with many other issues and PM Modi’s achievements would exacerbate things for the Congress party in 2019 general elections.