Dombivli blast: Police arrest owners of chemical factory

Malti Pradip Mehta, one of the two owners of Amudan Chemicals Pvt Ltd was apprehended in Nashik

The Anti Extortion Cell of Thane Crime Branch, on Friday detained both the owners of the Amudan Chemicals Pvt Ltd from Nashik following the boiler blast at the chemical company on Thursday. The owners have been identified as Malti Mehta, 70, and Malay Mehta. The Thane police Crime Branch said Malti was detained from Nashik with the help of local police and Malay was held from Thane.

Malay Mehta being escorted by Thane Crime Branch officials following his arrest in Nashik. The accused was on the run following the blast.

A senior Crime Branch officer said, "Both the accused have been detained and are being interrogated and once their role is established, they will be placed under arrest." On Friday early morning, the Manpada police and Thane Crime Branch formed multiple teams to trace the culprits after they registered an FIR against the owners, directors and other senior functionaries on charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and under the Explosives Substance Act, among other charges.

Thane Police Commissioner Ashutosh Dumbre confirmed to mid-day that the owners, manager and all those responsible for the compliance of safety precautions while handling, processing and storing hazardous chemicals, have been booked. "Our investigations have revealed that the boiler unit involved in the blast was not registered under the India Boiler Regulations, 1950, highlighting a severe lapse in safety protocols. This regulatory oversight has placed Mehta under scrutiny to determine the extent of negligence that led to the tragedy." said an official from Manpada Police station.

Fire brigade officials extinguish the fire after the boiler blast at the chemical factory. Pic/Satej Shinde

The bodies of the deceased were taken to Shashtri Nagar hospital, Dombivli West, and Rukmani hospital in Kalyan. Manpada police said that they are having a hard time identifying the deceased as their faces and body parts were disfigured. "Only two of them have been identified so far - Riddhi Khanvilkar, 36, and Rohini Kadam, 26," said a police source. "The people working in and around Amudan Chemicals were thrown off to a distance," the official added.

"Rescue teams fear more individuals may be trapped at the blast site. Emergency responders are working their best to locate and assist any remaining survivors amidst the debris but according to what I know, their chances of survival are less," said another official from Manpada police station. The accused have been charged under Sections 304, 34, 324, 326, 285, 286, 427 of the Indian Penal Code, Sections 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the Explosive Act 1884; Section 9(b) & 9(c) of Explosive Substances Act and Section 4 of Damage to Public Property Act."