Ahmedabad firecracker blast: 3 accused get 7-day police custody
Synopsis
A Ahmedabad court on Monday refused full police custody demands and granted seven days — not fourteen — to investigators probing the Vastral firecracker factory blast that killed 10 people, four of them minors. With the factory allegedly running on an expired licence to meet Ganesh festival orders, the SIT now has until 27 July to crack open the supply chain and identify all those responsible.
Key Takeaways
An Ahmedabad metropolitan court on 20 July remanded Ramila Dodia , Mehul Dodia , and Sadiq Saiyed to seven days' police custody until 27 July .
The Vastral firecracker factory blast has claimed 10 lives , including four victims below the age of 18 ; five others remain under treatment.
Govind Damor , with over 95 per cent burns , died at Civil Hospital on Monday, raising the toll to 10.
Investigators allege the 'New Gujarat Fire Works' unit was operating with an expired licence , reportedly to fulfil Ganesh festival orders.
An SIT led by DCP Mayur Patil is probing the source of explosives, financial transactions, and the role of other individuals.
The case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita , the Explosive Substances Act, 1908 , and the Explosives Act, 1884 .
A metropolitan court in Ahmedabad on Monday, 20 July remanded three accused in the Vastral firecracker factory blast case to seven days' police custody, permitting investigators to question them until 27 July. The ruling comes as a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probes one of the city's deadliest industrial accidents in recent years, which claimed 10 lives and left five others injured.
Who Has Been Arrested
The three accused produced before the court are Ramila Dodia, the factory operator; her son Mehul Dodia; and their alleged partner Sadiq Saiyed. They were arrested in connection with the explosion at the 'New Gujarat Fire Works' unit on Ramol-Gatrad Road, behind the Rapid Action Force (RAF) camp in Vastral village.
Police had sought 14 days' custody, arguing the accused were not cooperating with the investigation and that custodial interrogation was necessary to trace the source of explosives, uncover financial transactions, and identify any other individuals connected to the unit. The court granted half the requested period.
What the Court Was Told
The government prosecutor opposed any bail relief, submitting that 'the case involved a grave offence in which 10 people had lost their lives, and five others had sustained injuries.' The prosecutor further informed the court that four of those killed were below the age of 18, underscoring the severity of the incident.
Investigators allege the factory had been operating illegally, its licence having expired earlier this year. According to police, the unit had resumed manufacturing firecrackers in the weeks preceding the blast to fulfil orders ahead of the upcoming Ganesh festival.
The Blast and Its Aftermath
The explosion occurred on Saturday afternoon at the firecracker manufacturing unit, triggering a major fire that destroyed the factory and trapped workers inside. Rescue operations were led by personnel from the RAF, Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services, and the police.
The death toll climbed to 10 on Monday morning after Govind Damor, who had sustained more than 95 per cent burns, succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at Civil Hospital. Five injured persons continue to receive treatment.
Legal Sections and SIT Investigation
Police have registered a case under Sections 105, 287, 288 and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with Sections 5(A) and 6 of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908, and Section 9(B) of the Explosives Act, 1884.
The SIT, headed by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-8) Mayur Patil, is conducting the investigation with assistance from forensic experts, the Fire Department, and other agencies. During the remand period, investigators are expected to question the accused on the procurement of explosives, the illegal operation of the factory, and the circumstances that triggered the explosion.
The case will be closely watched as Gujarat's industrial safety record faces fresh scrutiny, with authorities under pressure to establish accountability for the alleged unlicensed operation.
Point of View
But the deeper question this case raises is structural: how does a firecracker unit with an expired licence resume full-scale manufacturing ahead of a major festival without triggering any regulatory intervention? Gujarat has seen repeated industrial fire tragedies, and the pattern — unlicensed or under-inspected units, seasonal production surges, and belated enforcement — has not meaningfully changed. The inclusion of four minors among the dead sharpens the accountability question considerably. Whether the SIT's remand period surfaces the full network of complicity, or stops at the three named accused, will determine whether this becomes a genuine reckoning or another case that fades after the custody hearings.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Ahmedabad firecracker factory blast?
An explosion at the 'New Gujarat Fire Works' unit in Vastral village, Ahmedabad, on Saturday afternoon triggered a major fire that killed 10 people and injured five others. The factory was allegedly operating with an expired licence to fulfil orders for the Ganesh festival.
Who are the three accused remanded to police custody?
The three accused are Ramila Dodia, the factory operator; her son Mehul Dodia; and their alleged partner Sadiq Saiyed. They were produced before an Ahmedabad metropolitan court on 20 July and remanded to seven days' police custody until 27 July.
Why did police seek 14 days' custody and what did the court grant?
Police sought 14 days' custody, arguing the accused were uncooperative and that extended interrogation was needed to trace explosives procurement, financial dealings, and other individuals involved. The court granted seven days' remand instead.
How many of the victims were minors?
Four of the 10 people killed in the blast were below the age of 18, according to the government prosecutor's submission before the court.
What charges have been filed and who is leading the investigation?
Cases have been registered under Sections 105, 287, 288, and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Sections 5(A) and 6 of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908, and Section 9(B) of the Explosives Act, 1884. A Special Investigation Team headed by DCP (Zone-8) Mayur Patil is conducting the probe with forensic and fire department support.
