Pune: Police have detained Schaeffler India managing director and CEO Harsha Kadam from Mumbai in connection with the June 9 CO₂ leak at the company’s Talegaon plant, which killed two workers and injured four others.
The incident occurred around 12.30pm on June 9 at the automotive and industrial parts maker’s unit in Navlakh Umbre of the Talegaon MIDC area during the scheduled replacement of expired CO₂ cylinders in the plant’s fire suppression system. An accidental death case was initially registered at Talegaon MIDC police station on June 10. Police subsequently registered an FIR on July 4 against six people and others under relevant sections, including those pertaining to death by negligence.
Investigation revealed that the fire suppression system was installed in a basement pit without necessary permission, said Vijayanand Patil, senior police inspector at Talegaon MIDC police station.
Deputy commissioner of police Shweta Khedkar told TOI , “Kadam developed health complications during the medical check-up before being produced in court. We told the court about his condition. The court told us to produce him before it immediately after his discharge. The company had not obtained the necessary permission to install the fire suppression system in the pit, which lacked an emergency exit and adequate ventilation, including exhaust fans or mechanical ventilation, according to the FIR.
It directed us to keep him in detention until he is discharged from hospital. A police guard has been deployed at the hospital. The work was being carried out by workers employed by third-party contractors. Those named included the company’s safety officer, heat treatment head, branch head and project manager, along with officials associated with the contractor responsible for the maintenance work. A report submitted by the deputy director of DISH following an inspection flagged several alleged safety lapses. The report also highlighted the absence of a standby rescue team, which delayed rescue efforts. The furnace plant was expected to remain shut during maintenance of the fire suppression system. Investigators further cited the absence of trained experts to supervise the work and a lack of coordination among Schaeffler, Usha Fire Safety Equipment and Fernoteck Engineering as factors that contributed to the incident and hampered rescue operations.
Police on Wednesday said Kadam was admitted to Sassoon General Hospital after his blood pressure rose during a mandatory medical examination before his production in court on Tuesday.