Want to work for Bhopal gas victims, says Keshub Mahindra

86-year-old Mahindra, who got the relief today five days after he got conditional bail, also said that instead of spending time on legal matters one should help people of Bhopal.

Four of the six others who were convicted along with Mahindra on June 7 in the 1984 gas leak case were also granted bail by Chief Judicial Magistrate R V Singh.

Talking to reporters outside the court, Mahindra said he wanted to do some work for the gas victims.

"I have been saying for last 20 years that it is my desire to do something concrete for the gas victims."

Mahindra said he did not accept the charges framed against him in the gas leak case.
"I think what happened was terrible. I think something should be done quickly. If they need compensation, give them compensation. Help them with health. Instead of spending time on legal matters, you should help people of Bhopal," he said.

He said he had resigned as a member of the Prime Minister's Trade Council as he did not consider it proper to continue.

UCIL former Managing Director Vijay Gokhale, former Vice President Kishore Kamdar, former Works Manager J Mukund and former Production Manager S P Choudhry got relief today along with Mahindra. Former Plant Superintendent K V Shetty and former Operator S I Qureshi did not get bail today as they were not present in the court.

The convicts had filed an appeal in the sessions court against the June 7 verdict which had directed them to seek bail from Chief Judicial Magistrate.

They were sentenced under section 304 A, 336, 337 and 338 read with section 35 of the IPC under which each was awarded two years imprisonment and a fine of over Rs 1 lakh under different sections was imposed on them by CJM Mohan P Tiwari.

The sessions court granted conditional bail to Mahindra on July 1. The court reserved its order on the bail plea of the other 6 convicts in the case.

All the 7 convicts had filed appeal in the District and Sessions court against the order of Tiwari. 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.