Kochar Commission, appointed to look into various aspects of Bhopal gas disaster, has sought information from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and union home ministry on the arrest of then chairman of Union Carbide Corporation ( UCC) Warren Anderson in Bhopal, his release and providing him the state plane to fly back to Delhi.
In Parliament debate in 2010 over Bhopal gas disaster in the midst of public outrage over court verdict in the gas disaster criminal case, Congress MP Arjun Singh, who was the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh at the time of Bhopal gas disaster, had accused then Union home minister PV Narsimharao of ordering the release of Anderson and providing him safe passage to Delhi.
It was seen in a section of people as an attempt to give clean chit to then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, whose role in the entire episode has always been questioned.
Attempts by some activists to seek information in this regard from the PMO through RTI have also been in vain as they were told that no documents related to the issue was available with the office.
Meanwhile, secretary to the chief minister Arjun Singh, NR Krishnan, who was supposed to record his statement before the commission on Wednesday, did not turn up for the purpose as summons could not be served on him.
{{/usCountry}}Meanwhile, secretary to the chief minister Arjun Singh, NR Krishnan, who was supposed to record his statement before the commission on Wednesday, did not turn up for the purpose as summons could not be served on him.
{{/usCountry}}The commisson asked for ascertaining Krishnan’s address and serving him summons through district judge, Tis Hazari court, Delhi.
However, Nisar Ahmed, a citizen who had presented a written statement before the commission, was examined by the commission.
The commission has also summoned advocate Shahnawaz Khan for deposition.