India, April 25 -- A Delhi court on Thursday pulled up the Tihar Jail authorities for lodging Christian Michel James, accused in the Agusta Westland chopper scam, in the same cell as a hardened criminal, saying such instances give a bad name to the country in the international press.

The court also cited the instance of a United Kingdom court denying the extradition request for arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari on similar grounds.

Special Judge Sanjeev Aggarwal of Rouse Avenue Court made the observations while dealing with an application filed by Michel, alleging attempts to poison him inside his cell by a fellow inmate.

Earlier this month, the courthad sought a report from the jail authorities on how Michel, a UK citizen, was kept in the sa...