On Tuesday, Andhra Pradesh HC granted bail to twelve persons from LG Polymer management i.e. the company’s CEO, two directors, and nine others, in relation to the gas leak incident at LG Polymer Plant in Vizag this May 2020.
This incident led to the loss of several lives and adversely impacted the environment. The accused were charged under section 278, 284, 285, 337, 338, and 304-II of the Indian Penal Code.
The bail was sought by the accused on grounds of apprehension of COVID – 19 and also undertook to comply with all the conditions that court may apply.
The court was in opinion that while the incident did have a large and very adverse impact with lives being lost, the mitigating factors which led to the incident taking place tend to dilute the liability of the management. Thus, the accused are entitled to be released on bail.
“Certain externally forced events like long shut down of the plant due to lockdown and the efforts of the company to air its apprehension of lurking danger due to bulk storage of Styrene monomer in its tanks to the authorities concerned in vain, stand to consider in this respect… The above factors positively stand in favour of the accused”, the order states.
Moreover, the Court also observed that except Section 304-II of the IPC, all the charges leveled against the accused are bailable in nature.
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