Mahindra pleads to absolve in Bhopal gas case

Bhopal, June 8 (UNI) The Chief Judicial Magistrate's court today recorded the statement of the then Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) chairman Keshub Mahindra in a criminal case related to 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy.

In his written statement, Mr Mahindra submitted he had nothing to do directly with the management and technical aspects of the Carbide factory as he was the company's non-executive chairman.

Mr Mahindra has stated he had acted as a non-executive chairman of several companies besides being Mahindra and Mahindra's director and chairman.

Rejecting the allegations levelled against him in the gas tragedy case, he prayed the court to absolve him of these charges.

Earlier, the court has recorded the statements of the then UCIL works manager J Mukund and Managing Director Vijay Gokhale.

The court was also recorded the statement of the then UCIL vice-chairman Kishore Kamdar.

Earlier, the eight accused had appeared before the court on February 6.

Mr Mahindra said he had no direct relation with the UCIL's day-to-day functioning and other technical aspects, which were looked upon by the Managing Director and other technical experts.

He said he came to know about the tragic incident of December 3, 1984 and visited Bhopal on December 7, along with the then UCC chairman Warren Anderson and faced arrest.

Several tonnes of toxic methyl isocyanate had leaked from the pesticide plant on the intervening night of December 2-3, 1984, killing thousands in their sleep.

Several lakh people continue to suffer the deleterious effects of inhaling the deadly vapours.

UNI SD-PS AK PM1732