Schaeffler India CEO and Managing Director Harsha Gopal Kadam was taken into custody by Talegaon MIDC police on October 19 in connection with a June factory accident in which two workers died after a carbon dioxide gas leak at the company’s plant in Pune district.
The company disclosed the development in a regulatory filing with the National Stock Exchange of India on Tuesday. According to the filing, Kadam was taken into custody at around 6.40pm under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The investigation is being handled by Talegaon MIDC police under the Pimpri Chinchwad police commissionerate.
Police have expanded the investigation to include Kadam on the grounds that he is considered the “occupier” of the factory premises under applicable law. In industrial safety cases, the designation can place responsibility for workplace conditions and compliance on the person legally recognised as controlling or occupying the premises. The police investigation will establish the specific circumstances and responsibility, according to the information provided in the report.
The accident occurred on June 9 at Schaeffler India’s factory in Talegaon MIDC when carbon dioxide was discharged during scheduled work to replace cylinders in the plant’s firefighting system. Two workers employed by a service provider died, while three other workers were affected by the leak, according to reports published at the time.
The maintenance work was reportedly under way when a cylinder’s safety pin was removed, triggering the release of the gas. The affected workers were taken to hospital, where two were declared dead. Police subsequently began examining the circumstances of the leak and whether the required safety procedures had been followed during the firefighting-system maintenance.
Schaeffler India said the company, its employees, officers and managing director had been cooperating with the authorities. It said it was assessing the latest developments in consultation with its legal advisers and would take all necessary steps in accordance with applicable law.
The company also maintained that it had complied with relevant laws and would continue to cooperate with the investigation. It said senior management remained responsible for day-to-day operations and that business activities were continuing in the ordinary course.
The case places renewed attention on the safety controls governing maintenance of industrial firefighting systems, particularly where contractors and service providers carry out work inside operating factories. The available information does not establish the final cause of the accident or determine criminal responsibility; those issues remain part of the police investigation.
The next steps will depend on the investigation by Talegaon MIDC police and the legal process arising from the provisions invoked in the case. Schaeffler India has said it will continue to respond to the authorities and take steps in accordance with applicable law.
