This Article is From Jun 08, 2010

Warren Anderson can still be tried for Bhopal gas tragedy: Moily

New Delhi:
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Law Minister Veerapa Moily has made clear that the case against former Union Carbide CEO Warren Anderson is not closed and that he can still be tried for the Bhopal gas tragedy.

Moily pointed out that the CBI's charge-sheet had included Anderson. "Accused should be present during charge-sheet...he has been declared an absconder...That does not mean the case is closed against him. He can be procured," the Law Minister said.

Moily had no comment to offer on Anderson being given safe passage by the then Congress government in December 1984, days after the tragedy, but had harsh words of criticism for former CBI officer BR Lall who told NDTV earlier that the investigating agency was asked by the central government to go soft on Warren Anderson.

"The Investigating officer had power, he should have used it," the minister said, adding, "I hold CBI investigating officers responsible. They can't become martyrs or saints after retirement. Today blaming others won't take you anywhere."

The law minister described the Bhopal tragedy case as one of "justice buried" and said the "anguish among people is natural. We need to take it further and bring it to a logical end."

He said it was time to revisit the whole process of judiciary, investigation and review the need for a comprehensive standalone law to deal with preventive action, punishment and compensation. "It cannot be ad hoc," Moily said.
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