Khaitan, an accused in the case, had challenged a section of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The bench rejected his plea, stating, “Such people think they can bypass the system, but we will not let that happen. They should face trial like common citizens.” Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, representing Khaitan, argued that the petition was related to review petitions in the pending Vijay Madanlal Choudhary case, but the court did not accept this argument.
The AgustaWestland case revolves around the controversial purchase of 12 AW101 VVIP helicopters from the Italian firm AgustaWestland (now Leonardo S.p.A.) between 2010 and 2013, meant for high-ranking Indian officials, including the President and Prime Minister. Investigations revealed alleged kickbacks totaling ₹423 crore paid to Indian officials and intermediaries to secure the deal.
Investigations were conducted jointly by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), alongside inquiries in Italy and other countries. The case timeline includes the 2010 agreement, 2013 bribery revelations, and subsequent cancellation of the deal by the Indian government in 2014. Several accused were tried in Indian and Italian courts, while middleman Christian Michel emerged as a key figure and was extradited from Dubai in December 2018.
Recently, on December 20, 2025, Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Special Judge Court ordered the release of Christian Michel in the money laundering case, citing that he had already spent time equivalent to the maximum seven-year sentence. However, Michel remains in custody under the CBI investigation. His related petitions are still pending in court.
The Supreme Court’s dismissal reinforces the principle that no individual, regardless of wealth or status, can evade judicial proceedings by challenging laws instead of participating in trials. The case continues to unfold across multiple courts, with ongoing hearings in both corruption and money laundering matters.
