CBI to strengthen prosecution, depute more lawyers in Bhopal gas case

Under fire for weak and lengthy prosecution in the Bhopal Gas Tragedy case, CBI director Ashwini Kumar said today that the agency was going to strengthen its prosecution by deputing more lawyers.

"Our investigations are normally good in all the cases, but our prosecution during trials has not been good and we are going to improve this by deputing more lawyers to put our side effectively," Kumar, who had come here for a function, told reporters.

He said that there was only one CBI lawyer, C Sahay, in the Bhopal Gas Tragedy case from the prosecution side whereas there was a battery of defence lawyers fielded by the accused. 

"Now, we will ensure that there is a panel of at least five lawyers to deal with big cases," he added. 

Overall though the CBI director maintained that the central agency has done its job well in the Bhopal Gas tragedy case, adding that the accused have been convicted for two years, after a scientific investigation.

He said that the charges against the accused were amended to 304 (A) from 304 II of IPC by the Supreme Court after the CBI filed the case against them.

Kumar said CBI has plans to ensure that investigation in any case is completed in a year's time so that the trial comes to an end within two years.