The principal district court in Bhopal received sobering news on Monday. Judge Manoj Shrivastava learned about the death of Shakeel Qureshi during final arguments in the long-running Union Carbide criminal appeal.
Key Convict Passes Away
Shakeel Qureshi served as a plant assistant at the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal. He was among eight officials convicted in the tragic gas leak case. The court heard that Qureshi died in Nagpur, where he had relocated with his family years earlier.
Judge Shrivastava immediately directed the Central Bureau of Investigation to verify this death report. The court then postponed further proceedings until January 20. On that date, the CBI will present its final arguments in this fifteen-year-old appeal.
Qureshi's Crucial Role
Qureshi held particular significance in this historic case. At approximately sixty-five years old, he was the lowest-ranking official among the accused. Yet his testimony carried extraordinary weight.
He served as shift in-charge during the catastrophic night of December 2-3, 1984. That was when lethal methyl isocyanate gas escaped from the factory. The disaster claimed thousands of lives and left countless others with permanent disabilities.
His detailed deposition before both the CBI and the court provided vital insights into that fateful night. Qureshi also stood out as the only accused who originally hailed from Bhopal itself.
A Dedicated Attendee
Despite all accused receiving exemption from court appearances, Qureshi demonstrated remarkable commitment. He attended every single hearing until illness forced him to stop. His relocation to Nagpur followed this declining health.
After his court appearances ceased, speculation swirled about his whereabouts. Rumors suggested he might have died from serious illness or even gone absconding. The court previously asked the CBI to locate him, leading to his discovery in Nagpur.
This time, however, the news appears confirmed. His own lawyer reportedly verified Qureshi's passing, ending years of uncertainty.
Shrinking List of Convicts
Qureshi's death marks the fifth convict to pass away during this lengthy legal process. The original eight convicted officials included:
- Chairman Keshub Mahindra
- Managing Director Vijay Gokhale
- Vice President Kishore Kamdar
- Works Manager J Mukund
- Production Manager S P Choudhary
- Plant Superintendent K V Shetty
- Production Assistant Shakeel Qureshi
- S P Roychowdhury
Roychowdhury died during the original trial itself. Four more convicts, including Mahindra, passed away during the appeal's pendency. This leaves only three surviving convicts: S P Chaudhary, Kishore Kamdar, and J Mukund.
The Legal Background
This appeal challenges a 2010 verdict from the Chief Judicial Magistrate. That original judgment convicted all eight officials under Section 304(A) of the Indian Penal Code. They received two-year rigorous imprisonment sentences.
Both the CBI and the convicts filed appeals in sessions court. The prosecution seeks enhanced punishment, while the defense pursues complete exoneration. This complex legal battle continues even as participants gradually pass away.
The Bhopal gas tragedy remains one of history's worst industrial disasters. Its legal aftermath continues unfolding nearly four decades later, with each development watched closely by survivors and observers worldwide.
