MP Government sacks former Bhopal SP from Narmada Authority

Bhopal, June 15 (ANI): The Madhya Pradesh Government on Tuesday sacked Swaraj Puri from the Narmada Valley Development Authority (NVDA) for his alleged involvement in aiding the release of former Union Carbide chairman Warren Anderson shortly after the Bhopal gas tragedy.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who is currently on a foreign tour has sent a directive to remove Puri.

Puri was a member of the NVDA's Grievances Redressal Authority (GRA) and enjoyed the rank of a Minister of State.

Puri was Bhopal Superintendent of Police when the disaster taken place in December 1984.

On December 7, Anderson was released and allegedly provided a government aircraft to travel from Bhopal to Delhi.

Earlier in the day, a criminal case was registered against Moti Singh, former Bhopal Collector and Swaraj Puri, former Superintendent of Police for maneuvering Anderson's escape.

The court has scheduled the argument on June 29. After the argument, court will decide if the complaints are admissible for further hearing or not.

Both Singh and Puri came under severe criticism for ferrying Anderson in the then Collector's official car on December 7, 1984, with Puri driving the car himself and Singh sitting beside him and Anderson in the back seat. (ANI)