Bhopal gas leak: PMO has no record on Anderson's flight

, Aug 9: The Prime Minister's Office has no record available on the arrest and subsequent release of former

chairman Warren Anderson, and also on provision of a state plane which flew him back to Delhi, the Commission probing the 1984 Bhopal gas leak case has been informed.

According to the PMO, "desired information was not available", official sources said. The commission, headed by Justice (retd) S L Kocchar, held a hearing yesterday. Earlier, it had written to PMO and the Union Home Ministry seeking the information. The Home Ministry has not yet responded.

Justice Kocchar also directed commission officials to write to Union Cabinet Secretariat to find out whether on December 7, 1984 the then Cabinet Secretary gave any directions to the State Chief Secretary Brahma Swaroop and whether any record of the same was available. The same information has also been sought from Madhya Pradesh Chief Secretary's office.

The commission yesterday also directed that summons be issued to the then Deputy Secretary J C Bhatt for certifying entries in the Aviation Department's Movement Register with regard to Anderson's return journey. Earlier yesterday, former Chief Minister Arjun Singh's secretary, N R Krishnan, deposed before the commission.

On the night of 2-3 December, 1984, lethal gas leak from Union Carbide's pesticide plant in Bhopal killed at least over 2,500 people, and harmed thousand others. It is alleged that Anderson, who visited Bhopal after the disaster, was allowed to return to Delhi by a state plane, from where he left the country for US, never to return despite warrants by Indian courts.

PTI