Christian Michel's lawyer | Photo Credit: ANI

New Delhi: Even as the Narendra Modi government scored a major victory by securing the extradition of AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal case accused, middleman Christian Michel from the UAE, the opposition Congress party has landed in an embarrassing situation. It has come to light that the lawyer representing Michel, accused in the Rs 3,600 crore scam, is actually a member of the Congress’ youth wing.

BJP spokesperson Suresh Nakhua claimed in a tweet that Aljo K Joseph, who represented the middleman during the hearing at the Patiala House court on Wednesday a day after his extradition from the United Arab Emirates, is national in-charge of the legal department of Indian Youth Congress.

"Any guesses who is lawyer for Christian Michel ? Mr @Aljokjoseph , National incharge, legal department, Indian youth congress (sic)," claimed Nakhua in the tweet. Separately, Joseph also met Congress general secretary Deepak Babaria at the Congress Headquarters in Delhi after the court hearing.

Responding to the claims, Michel’s lawyer Joseph admitted that he was linked to the Congress. He, however, added that he represented Michel in a professional capacity.

​

“I'm an actively practicing advocate. I appeared for him (Christian Michel) in my professional capacity. If somebody asks me to appear on behalf of a client... I've only discharged my duty as a lawyer. It has nothing to do with the Congress,” Joseph said, as per ANI.

“My relation with the Congress is separate, my profession is separate. One of my friends, who was having some Dubai connections, through him the lawyer in Italy had requested it. So I was just helping in appearing and assisting him in this matter,” he added.

When asked what position does he hold in the Congress party, Joseph replied: “I am the national in-charge for the Indian Youth Congress’ legal department.”