Ex-Union Carbide employees plea against Bhopal gas leak-based web series rejected | Mumbai news

They argued that the web series would cause “prejudice” against them in any proceedings against them and that the release should be stayed pending their appeals. They also claimed that they also had the right to preview the series.

Advocate Anirban Roy, appearing for the convicts, said the web series was released nearly 40 years after the incident and would only serve “reopening of old wounds and serve no useful purpose”.

However, the bench said that the duo knew about the serial from November 25, 2022 as their producers Yash Raj Films informed them through a letter. “Thus, the appellants noticed that the web series contained events that occurred during the 1984 gas leak… the appellants were aware and therefore should have moved sooner if they were so concerned about such depictions of events.” “, – said in his order, which was made available on Friday.

“The whole premise is to seek a stay on the release of the said web series [that] The same may adversely affect the proceedings of the petitioners. This is prima facie untenable for three reasons, (a) that the appellants have already been convicted in connection with the Bhopal gas tragedy (b) the trial was concluded in 2010, the content of the trial and the judgment were available at Public Domain and (c) YRF’s counsel has published a disclaimer preceding the airing of each episode that specifically warns “This series is a work of fiction inspired by real events,” the bench said.

The court also stated that “appellants’ right to have a preliminary showing of a fictional work owned exclusively by the defendant producer is indeed untenable.”