The Telangana High Court has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the sluggish pace of investigation into the devastating Sigachi Industries explosion that claimed the lives of 54 workers on June 30. During a hearing on Thursday, the court questioned why authorities had failed to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) with expert members or transfer the case to a specialized agency like the CB-CID.
Court's Strong Rebuke to Investigation Delays
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin voiced serious concerns about the handling of this major case. The judges expressed displeasure that such a significant investigation remained with local police and was being conducted by an officer of DSP rank. "You want us to monitor the probe? The manner in which the investigation is progressing, and not being disclosed to the court, calls for a court-monitored probe," the bench remarked during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the matter.
The court specifically questioned whether examining 237 witnesses wasn't sufficient for police to file a chargesheet. The bench has directed the investigating DSP to appear before the court on the next hearing date with all relevant records, including the case diary, and adjourned the matter to December 9.
Revealing Details from Expert Committee Report
Advocate Vasudha Nagaraj, representing petitioner Kalapala Babu Rao, presented disturbing findings from the state-appointed expert committee's report. The revelations included that the firm had commissioned advanced machinery and begun production in a building approved back in 1995, stored large quantities of sodium chloride illegally, and employed unskilled workers in highly hazardous conditions.
Nagaraj further submitted that most workers affected by the blast had yet to receive the promised compensation, adding another layer of injustice to the tragedy that has left numerous families devastated.
Government's Response and Court's Concerns
Additional Advocate General T Rajinikanth Reddy, representing the state, briefed the court on the committee's findings. He informed that police had received the report only a few days earlier and had examined 237 witnesses with approximately 20 more pending. Reddy assured the court that investigators would complete the probe within a week and take appropriate action based on their findings.
However, the bench remained skeptical, questioning whether the investigation was proceeding correctly. "Is the investigation proceeding on the right lines? Have you taken statements from statutory agencies?" the court asked. The judges noted that while an expert committee might examine the root cause, officials responsible for implementing statutes such as the Factories Act had not been properly examined in the investigation.
The court's intervention highlights the ongoing struggle for accountability and justice for the victims of one of Hyderabad's worst industrial accidents in recent years.
