An alleged attempt to divert 22 tonnes of phosphoric acid valued at Rs 44 lakh from Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore’s Kochi division has triggered fresh questions from trade unions over the pace of the police and company vigilance investigations.
The incident relates to phosphoric acid brought to FACT’s Kochi division for fertiliser production. According to a report by Kerala Kaumudi, two Tamil Nadu-based drivers, identified as Surya and Muthu, were arrested in connection with the case. The vehicles allegedly used in the attempted diversion are in custody, while other vehicles belonging to the agency continue to operate for the company, the report said.
The alleged movement involved phosphoric acid loaded at Q10 terminal on Willingdon Island for transport to Ambalamedu. Information cited in the report indicates that other lorries were making four or five trips on the route, which normally takes about an hour, while the vehicles intercepted in the case had made only one trip. The report did not provide details of the police sections invoked, the quantity recovered or the current status of the arrested drivers.
Trade unions at FACT have alleged that the incident may not be an isolated case and have called for an investigation by central agencies. They have also raised suspicions that some officials may have facilitated the alleged diversion. These claims have not been independently established in the supplied report.
Union leaders further alleged that workers who helped detect the suspected irregularity could be made scapegoats. They questioned the pace of both the police investigation and the company’s vigilance inquiry, describing the response as insufficient. The company’s detailed response to the allegations was not included in the report.
The case has also revived concerns over earlier fertiliser stock discrepancies linked to FACT. Kerala Kaumudi reported that investigations into the disappearance of 640 tonnes of FACTAMFOS and 160 tonnes of ammonium sulphate from the Chikmagalur and Kadur depots, reported three years ago, had not produced a conclusive outcome. An audit report had recorded that products worth Rs 2.18 crore were missing from stock, according to the report. That matter was examined by an internal committee.
The earlier fertiliser case reportedly gained wider attention after the BJP’s Elur municipal committee submitted a complaint to the Union minister, following Kerala Kaumudi’s coverage. The latest allegations therefore raise questions not only about the movement of a controlled industrial input but also about how public-sector manufacturers track material from terminal receipt to production facilities.
The immediate investigation will need to establish the ownership and route records of the vehicles, the loading and delivery documentation, the quantity of phosphoric acid involved and the role, if any, of company employees or contractors. The supplied report did not state when the next police or vigilance action is expected.
