Chopper deal: Delhi court issues warrant against accused

New Delhi: A Delhi court on Thursday issued a non-bailable warrant against Christian Michel James, an accused in the AgustaWestland chopper deal case.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on September 11 moved an application in the court seeking direction to issue non-bailable warrant James.

Special Judge Ajay Kumar Jain allowed the CBI application requesting to issue an open-ended non-bailable arrest warrant against James, who has been referred as a major beneficiary of the chopper deal.

The CBI on March 13, 2013 registered a first information report against former Air Force chief SP Tyagi and others in the chopper deal case.

Firms Finmeccanica, AgustaWestland, IDS Infotech Ltd (India) and Aeromatrix India were also booked as accused in the case.

Bribery allegations in the Rs.3,600 crore deal for 12 AW-101 choppers were being probed by the central investigating agency.