Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested SI Qureshi who was absconding since 2016 in Bhopal Gas Tragedy case. The arrested accused will be produced in the District and Session Judge, Bhopal court on Thursday.
Notably, the CBI had registered a case on December 06, 1984 on the request of Madhya Pradesh (MP) Government and took over the investigation of the case, earlier registered at Police Station Hanumanganj, Bhopal on December 02, 1984. It was alleged that in the intervening night of December 2 and 3, 1984 from 12.00 - 12.45 am onwards on December 03, 1984, MIC started to escape from Tank 610 in the UCIL (Union Carbide India Limited) factory at Bhopal in large quantities causing deaths of thousands of persons and animals and affecting the health of lakhs of people.
On conclusion of trial, the court of CJM, Bhopal held all the accused persons guilty and convicted them. SI Qureshi an employee of Union Carbide Bhopal was also one of the convicted.
Aggrieved with the impugned order of the Court, the convicted persons filed appeals in the Court of Sessions Bhopal. CBI also filed an appeal against the order of CJM and requested for enhancement of sentence. The case presently is at argument on appeals stage.
During pendency of appeal, SI Qureshi absconded from 2016. The Court issued NBW against SI Qureshi and notice to surety. Initially MP Police tried to execute the NBW but could not execute the same. CBI was requested to execute the NBW. It was alleged that SI Qureshi along with his family went to an unknown destination. After strenuous efforts, CBI arrested the absconding accused on Tuesday in Nagpur.