In a major development the Crime Investigation Department of Bengal Police has summoned Ruia Group boss Pawan Ruia in connection with the incident of successive fires gutting the premises of Jessop and Company at Dum Dum off Kolkata.
Earlier the State Government had slapped non-bailable charges against Ruia who is also said to be the “promoter” of Dunlop India and has major stakes in other tyre factories in South India.
The group also has stakes in rubber and other industries.
Sources in the State Secretariat said the Government was smelling rat in the repeated incidents of fire that was gradually gutting the industry premises arguably worth Rs 500-plus crore.
“We have reports not only of fire that is further destroying the already dilapidated facilities but also machines and other properties worth crores are being regularly stolen out of the premises in the dead of night. Hence the FIR,” said a Minister.
Ruia who had taken over Dunlop and Jessop a few years ago with the promise of a turnaround and his managerial staff were booked under Sections 427 (mischief, causing damage), 435 (mischief by fire/arson), 436 (mischief by fire/arson), 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC and 11J, 11l (contravention of provisions for safety measures) and 26 (penalty for not taking out license) of the West Bengal Fire Services Act-1950.
He was on Monday issued notice by the CID to appear before it within this week, sources said adding Ruia’s frantic effort to humour the Government big guns including Fire Minister and Kolkata Mayor Sovan Chatterjee considered a blue-eyed boy of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, had failed.
Ruia upon being contacted however said he was “happy that a probe is on and truth will come out. I have supreme faith in the West Bengal Government and the police.”
Senior officials of the Ruia Group on the other hand said, “the description of Pawan Ruia as the proprietor of the factory wasn’t true. He is not a proprietor, a shareholder or an occupier of Jessop & Co ltd.”
Sources in the police said that there was sufficient evidence to show foul play in the incidents of fire and theft inside the factory premises. “It seems that Mr Ruia’s statement regarding the issue will help the police get nearer to the truth,” an official said.