Mahindra gets bail in Bhopal gas case

BHOPAL: The sessions court here today granted conditional bail to former Union Carbide India Limited ( UCIL) Chairman Keshub Mahindra who was convicted in 1984 Bhopal gas leak case.

It, however, reserved its order on the bail application of six other UCIL executives who were also convicted in the case last month.

District and Session Judge Subhash Kakde granted bail to Mahindra on condition that he would attend the court's proceeding regularly and would not leave the country without its permission.

Judge Kakde asked Mahindra to furnish personal and security bond of Rs one lakh each.

The court reserved its order on the bail plea of other six convicts UCIL former Managing Director Vijay Gokhale, former Vice President Kishore Kamdar, former Works Manager J Mukund, former Production Manager S P Choudhary, former Plant Superintendent K V Shetty and former Operator SI Qureshi.

All seven convicts have filed appeal in the District and Sessions court against the order of then Chief Judicial Magistrate Mohan P Tiwari who on June 7 found them guilty for the toxic leak from the now defunct Union Carbide Factory, Bhopal in 1984 and awarded them two-year imprisonment.

The CJM court had granted them bail on June 7 itself. The convicts applied for bail afresh in the District and Session court as it was mandatory before their appeal against Chief Judicial Magistrate's verdict was entertained.