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 Pune that killed two workers, the automotive and industrial parts maker said in an exchange filing.
The accident occurred on June 9 at the company’s factory premises in Talegaon, Pune, when a sudden discharge of carbon dioxide took place during a scheduled cylinder replacement. The two deceased workers were employed by a service provider working at the facility, according to the company’s statement cited by Economic Times.
The police investigation has now been expanded to include Kadam on the grounds that he was considered the “occupier” of the factory premises under applicable law. Schaeffler India said Kadam was taken into custody late Monday for investigation. The company did not state in the filing whether charges had been filed against him or provide further details about the investigation.
The development places renewed attention on the legal responsibility attached to the management of industrial premises, particularly when work is carried out by employees of an external service provider. The accident involved carbon dioxide, a gas that can create a serious safety risk in enclosed or poorly ventilated areas if released unexpectedly. The company’s account linked the release to the replacement of a cylinder.
Schaeffler India said that it, along with its employees and officers, had cooperated with the authorities throughout the investigation and would continue to do so. The company said it was evaluating the developments in consultation with its legal advisers and would take all necessary steps in accordance with applicable law.
The company also said its senior management remained in charge of day-to-day operations and that business activities continued in the ordinary course. The statement did not disclose the names of the deceased workers, the service provider involved, the specific safety systems under examination or the next scheduled stage of the police investigation.
Talegaon is part of Pune’s wider industrial and automotive manufacturing belt, where large factories routinely rely on contractors and specialised service providers for maintenance and operational work. The custody of a senior company executive makes the case relevant not only to the investigation into the June deaths but also to how responsibility is assessed when an incident occurs on premises operated by a major manufacturer.
Schaeffler India said it would continue to monitor the matter and respond in accordance with applicable law. The police investigation remains the next formal step in determining the circumstances of the accident and the responsibility, if any, of individuals connected with the factory’s operation.
