What led to the arrest of Hemant Sachdeva in the Bhiwadi factory blast?
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Jaipur, Feb 21 (NationPress) Authorities have detained Hemant Sachdeva, who has been recognized as the principal suspect in the explosion at an unlawful firecracker production facility in Bhiwadi that resulted in the fatalities of seven workers and injuries to numerous others on February 16, as reported on Saturday by officials.
The blast took place in the Khushkheda industrial hub within the Khairthal-Tijara district, prompting a significant inquiry into the illicit production of explosives in the area.
Superintendent of Police Manish Kumar from Khairthal-Tijara confirmed that Hemant Sachdeva was apprehended at his home in Delhi during a police operation and was later taken to Bhiwadi for further investigation.
Previously, law enforcement had arrested the factory operator Hemant Kumar Sharma and supervisor Abhinandan Tiwari in relation to the incident. Initially, the FIR had implicated plot owner Rajendra Kumar, but during interrogations with the apprehended suspects, Sachdeva's alleged involvement came to light, leading to his identification as a principal suspect.
Sachdeva was presented in court on Saturday, and police have requested his custody to enable a deeper investigation into the illegal firecracker manufacturing enterprise.
During the interrogations, investigators gathered intelligence regarding additional individuals and sites purportedly associated with the illicit firecracker production network. Police teams have since executed raids at multiple locations to uncover other participants in the operation.
Authorities are also scrutinizing the potential involvement of certain police officials in connection with the case. The Jaipur Vigilance unit is investigating head constable Yogesh Kumar Sharma and DST in-charge Mukesh Verma as part of the ongoing inquiry.
As a consequence of these developments, the Bhiwadi District Special Team unit has been disbanded, and further investigations are underway to identify any lapses or irregularities.
Police officials confirmed that the factory operated without the necessary licenses and lacked essential safety protocols for the management and storage of explosive materials.
Following the explosion, authorities initiated a statewide campaign to locate and close down illegal firecracker manufacturing units to avert similar occurrences.
The state administration has also declared compensation for the families affected by the explosion, both those killed and injured.
The investigation continues, with police indicating that further actions will be taken based on emerging evidence and findings during the probe.