BHOPAL: A court on February 9 declared Warren Anderson, the former chairman of the Union Carbide Corporation, an “absconding offender” in an effort to extradite him from the United States to face charges in the Bhopal gas leak.
Chief Judicial Magistrate R.C. Mishra issued a warrant Nov 15, 1988, for Mr. Anderson’s arrest to answer homicide charges filed by the Indian Government.
Repeated summons have failed to bring Mr. Anderson to Bhopal, the Indian Government counsel, US. Prasad, told the magistrate in requesting the former executive be declared an absconder. Mr. Mishra granted the request, which is intended to make it easier for the Indian Government to initiate extradition proceedings.
India and the United States do not have an extradition treaty, but individual extraditions are possible.
The proclamation orders Mr. Anderson to appear before the Bhopal magistrate March 31.
Charges of Culpable homicide were filed in November against Mr. Anderson, Union Carbide. Union Carbide Eastern Inc. of Hong Kong, Union Carbide India Ltd. and eight officials of Indian subsidiary.
Mr. Anderson was chairman of Union Carbide on Dee. 3. 1984, when methyl isocyanate leaked out of a tank at a Bhopal pesticide subsidiary killing more than 2,000 people.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 17, 1989
