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Extradition proceedings against Anderson soon: CBI director

Sumir Kaul in New Delhi

The Central Bureau of Investigation has decided to initiate extradition proceedings against Warren Anderson, former chairman of the Union Carbide.

"We will be seeking extradition under section 304 (culpable homicide)," CBI Director P C Sharma said.

"Once the government cleared the extradition proceedings, the CBI was also willing to seek the help of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for help," he said.

The CBI's decision comes days after a local court in Bhopal turned down its plea for diluting charges against Anderson in the Bhopal gas tragedy case.

But, Sharma rejected the charge that the agency was deliberately trying to dilute the charges against the accused in the tragedy that killed and maimed thousands of people.

The CBI completed the investigations with utmost care, he said, adding that charges against nine others were diluted by the Supreme Court in 1996.

The CBI has filed charge sheets against 12 people, including Anderson, two foreign companies and nine Indian citizens.

While charges against nine of them were diluted from culpable homicide to negligence in the Supreme Court, the CBI had decided to change the charges of Anderson from 304 (culpable homicide) to 304-A (death due to negligence). This was rejected by the Bhopal court, which said, "There is no sense in reducing the charges since Warren Andersen who has been declared an absconder and against whom a permanent arrest warrant has been issued, has not appeared in any court."

Meanwhile, official sources told PTI that the government has decided to go ahead with pursuing the request for extradition of Anderson.

"The concerned agencies have been asked to do everything possible to strengthen the evidentiary links between Anderson and the gas leak tragedy in Bhopal so that the extradition request is successful," the sources said.

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