UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — SC seeks Centre’s response on Christian Michel James’ plea

Q1. Christian Michel James' May 2026 petition before the Supreme Court challenges the constitutionality of which one of the following provisions of the India–UAE Extradition Treaty (1999), which permits prosecution of an extradited person for offences connected to, and not merely identical with, the offence for which extradition was granted?

  • A. Article 7
  • B. Article 14
  • C. Article 17
  • D. Article 19

Q2. The 2010 contract between the Government of India and AgustaWestland — at the heart of the case in which Christian Michel James is an accused — was for the procurement of how many AW101 VVIP helicopters?

  • A. 8
  • B. 10
  • C. 12
  • D. 15

Q3. Section 21 — which Christian Michel James has invoked to argue that an extradited person can be tried only for the offence for which extradition was granted — is a provision of which one of the following Indian statutes that serves as the principal parent law governing extradition of fugitive offenders to and from India?

  • A. The Foreigners Act, 1946
  • B. The Extradition Act, 1962
  • C. The Passports Act, 1967
  • D. The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Q4. With reference to the parallel CBI and ED proceedings against Christian Michel James in the AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter case, consider the following statements: 1. The CBI case alleges a loss of about €398.21 million (~₹2,666 crore) to the exchequer arising out of the helicopter contract. 2. The ED chargesheet of June 2016 alleges that Michel received about €30 million (~₹225 crore) as kickbacks from AgustaWestland. 3. The Supreme Court granted Michel bail in the ED case on 18 February 2025, while the Delhi High Court granted him bail in the CBI case on 4 March 2025. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The CBI case alleges a loss of about €398.21 million (~₹2,666 crore) to the exchequer arising out of the helicopter contract.
  2. The ED chargesheet of June 2016 alleges that Michel received about €30 million (~₹225 crore) as kickbacks from AgustaWestland.
  3. The Supreme Court granted Michel bail in the ED case on 18 February 2025, while the Delhi High Court granted him bail in the CBI case on 4 March 2025.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. With reference to the AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter scam currently before Indian courts, consider the following four persons named as the alleged 'middlemen' probed by Indian investigative agencies: 1. Christian Michel James 2. Guido Haschke 3. Carlo Gerosa 4. Giuseppe Orsi Which of the above is NOT correctly identified as one of the three alleged middlemen in the case?

  1. Christian Michel James
  2. Guido Haschke
  3. Carlo Gerosa
  4. Giuseppe Orsi
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 4 only