8 LG staff seek Andhra Pradesh High Court nod to return to Korea

Nelapadu (Amaravati): The Division Bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Monday reserved the order on the petitions filed by eight Korean nationals, who were barred to leave the country following LG Polymers gas leak in Vizag, seeking the court permission to leave the country.

Earlier, the eight Koreans filed three writ petitions in the high court stating that they do not belong to LG Polymers at Visakhapatnam but were the employees of the parent company in Korea. They stated that police issued notice to them to be present for enquiries and they were not allowed to leave the country.

The petitions came up for hearing on Monday.

However, Advocate General S Sriram stated that the petitioners were never stopped from leaving the country by the police. The police had issued the notice as the delegation was on a mission to find the facts behind the gas leak and accident and hence their inputs would be crucial for the investigation. It was further stated that the police had finished their inquiry and had also taken statements of the petitioners under Section 161 CrPC and that the petitioners should be present before the police if it is required in future to corroborate some evidence. The Advocate General further submitted to the court that the petitioners were needed to file affidavits stating that they would be willing to come to India and present themselves before the Police if it is required during the course of investigation or thereafter.

The division bench observed that in case the petitioners do not appear before the police when needed, the government may approach the High Court by way of an affidavit and the needful will be done. The High Court, however, reserved the matter for orders.