AgustaWestland scam: Middleman Christian Michel ready to come to India if there is no arrest

NEW DELHI: Christian Michel, the alleged middleman in the controversial AgustaWestland chopper deal, is ready to come to India and face investigators provided he gets an assurance he will not be arrested, his lawyer Rosemary Patrizi Dos Anjos said today.

Anjos also said that Michel is living in Dubai and is willing to speak the "truth".

"He has arrest warrant and that is why he can't go to India. He is not free to go. He would like to go and answer everything and tell the truth but not with arrest warrant," Anjos told Times Now channel from Milan.

She said Michel is available to answer all questions in front of a judge but he must be assured that he is not going to be arrested.

Anjos said if her client gets formal invitation from Indian authorities and assurance that he will not be arrested then he will have to go to India and answer all the questions.

The controversial deal and the alleged bribes to the tune of Rs 120 crore paid in clinching it for AgustaWestland, a subsidiary of Italian defence giant Finmeccanica, has triggered a political slugfest between BJP and Congress.

CBI questioned former IAF chief SP Tyagi for the second day today in connection with the VVIP chopper deal.

CBI had in 2013 registered a case in connection with alleged bribes paid by the firm to Indians to clinch the deal for 12 helicopters to ferry VVIPs including the President and Prime Minister.