New Delhi:
Former Chief Justice of India AM Ahmadi has told NDTV that he had worked within the framework of the law and there was no question of watering down charges against the former CEO of Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) Warren Anderson.
In 1996, a Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Ahmadi had diluted charges to those of criminal negligence against Indian officials of Union Carbide India Limited, the subsidiary of the US-based UCC. The CBI had charged 12 accused, including Anderson, of culpable homicide, which carries a maximum punishment of 10 years. Criminal negligence carries a maximum punishment of two years.
Justice Ahmadi said an attempt could have been made to extradite Anderson. And also that his bench had worked within the framework of the law and that the law needed to be amended.
Warren Anderson was the CEO of Union Carbide Corporation when the Bhopal gas tragedy happened in December 1984. He was arrested days after the gas leak but was released on bail and allowed to leave the country. He never returned.
The Indian government says it repeatedly requested the US government to allow extradition, but was turned down each time.