India, Sept. 17 -- British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer took up the matter of Briton Christian Michel's imprisonment in India for seven years without trial "directly" with Narendra Modi, Britain's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) said, adding that this occurred during their last meeting at the former's country residence at Chequers.

The FCDO stated: "The Prime Minister raised Mr Michel's case directly with Prime Minister Modi on 24 July." It is the first time a British prime minister has acknowledged discussing Michel's extraordinary circumstance with Modi. Starmer was previously a human rights barrister.

Michel acted as a consultant to Finmeccanica, Italian owners of the English helicopter-making company AgustaWestl...