Schaeffler India managing director and CEO Harsha Gopal Kadam was granted bail by a court in Vadgaon Maval on Thursday after being formally arrested in connection with a carbon dioxide leak at the company’s Talegaon MIDC plant that killed two workers and injured four others.
The leak occurred on June 9 while expired CO2 cylinders in the plant’s fire suppression system were being replaced, according to police. Kadam, 60, was detained by Talegaon MIDC police on October 19, but his blood pressure rose during a medical examination before he could be produced in court. He was admitted to Sassoon General Hospital, while the court directed police to keep him under detention and provide security at the hospital until his discharge.
After Kadam was discharged, police formally arrested him and produced him before the court. The court subsequently granted him bail, police said.
The case initially began as an accidental death inquiry. Police later filed a First Information Report on July 4 against six people, including the company’s safety officer and personnel from two contractors involved in replacing the cylinders. Police said seven accused had been arrested before Kadam and that a chargesheet had already been filed.
Investigators have alleged that the CO2 cylinders were installed in a basement pit without the required permission. The pit did not have an exhaust fan or mechanical ventilation, police said. An inspection by the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health also found that the installation did not conform to the company’s approved layout.
The investigation has focused on how an industrial fire-suppression system was installed and maintained inside an enclosed space, and on the chain of responsibility for modifications to the plant. Police have alleged that Kadam, as the occupier of the premises, was responsible for the installation because changes could not be made without his permission.
According to the police account, the alleged negligence resulted in the deaths of two workers and injuries to four others. The bail order changes Kadam’s custody status but does not conclude the criminal proceedings or determine final responsibility. The case will continue through the legal process based on the chargesheet and investigation record.
