Six months after the devastating explosion at Sigachi Industries Pashamylaram unit in Telangana’s Sangareddy district, the Telangana police have arrested the company's managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO), Amit Raj Sinha. The blast, which occurred on 30 June 2025, claimed the lives of 54 workers, making it one of the deadliest industrial accidents in the state’s recent history.
According to police officials, Mr Sinha named as accused number 2 in the case was produced before a magistrate and remanded to 14 days of judicial custody at Kandi Central Jail. A senior officer from the BDL Bhanur police station stated that six officials from Sigachi Industries have been named as accused in the case, all belonging to the company’s management.
Sigachi Industries has filed a disclosure with the exchanges as per SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India ) rules, and it has stated that "The Company has taken all necessary measures to ensure the continuity of its operations and day-today activities. In the interim, Lijo Stephen Chacko, Deputy Group CEO, will oversee the operations of the Company."
The 30 June 2025 explosion was traced to a massive build-up of temperature and pressure in the factory’s dryer unit. Investigators found that poor maintenance and inadequate cleaning of equipment led to the fatal accident. Eight of the deceased workers could not even be identified, as their mortal remains were not recoverable.
Police have registered criminal cases against the Sigachi Industries management under various sections related to safety violations and negligence. Officials said the investigation is ongoing to identify all individuals responsible for the lapses that culminated in the tragedy.
The Telangana High Court has repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with the pace and direction of the investigation. During multiple hearings, including one last month, the court questioned why arrests had not been made, despite witness statements and prima facie evidence pointing to management-level negligence. The court’s observations came while hearing a public interest litigation filed by a group of retired scientists.
A state government appointed technical expert committee has also concluded that the accident occurred due to negligence on the part of Sigachi Industries’ management, further strengthening the case against senior officials.
Meanwhile, the families of the 54 victims many of whom hail from Bihar, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and other states continue to struggle for justice and compensation. Nearly 75% of the promised compensation of ₹1 crore per victim, assured jointly by the Telangana government and Sigachi Industries, is still pending. Aggrieved family members recently staged a protest at the labour commissioner’s office at RTC Crossroads in Hyderabad, demanding immediate disbursement of the remaining amount.
The arrest of the Sigachi CEO came after sustained pressure from the Telangana High Court, which insisted on concrete action against the company’s management. While the move has been welcomed by victims’ families, it has also renewed questions about regulatory oversight, industrial safety enforcement and the long delays in holding corporate decision-makers accountable after major industrial disasters.
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