The state government on Wednesday informed the Telangana High Court that five persons wanted in the Sigachi reactor blast case at Pashamailaram in Sangareddy district are absconding while one has already been arrested.
Additional Solicitor General T. Rajanikanth Reddy informed Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin, who were hearing a PIL over the June 2025 factory blast, that Sigachi Industries Limited CEO and Managing Director Amit Raj Sinha has been arrested and remanded in judicial custody. Sinha, the second accused in the case, was lodged in the Sangareddy Central Jail in Kandi.
The absconding accused are permanent directors Rabindra Prasad Sinha (75), Chidambaranathan (82) and directors Bindu Vinodhan (54), Dhanalaxmi Guntaka (47) and Yeddula Janardhan Reddy (67). The AAG said investigators interviewed over 300 witnesses, including officials from 16 different government departments. The investigation conducted so far has not found wrongdoing on the part of any person or agency. The probe was coming to an end and charges are likely to be filed soon.
Petitioner’s counsel Vasudha Nagaraj said the Sigachi management had reneged on its promise to pay compensation of one million rupees to the relatives of each of the 54 victims who died in the blast. It sought a direction for the government to clarify its stand on the point of compensation of one billion rupees.
Senior counsel S. Nirajan Reddy, appearing for Sigachi, said the factory management will pay Rs. 42 million in compensation for the victims’ families. The remaining amount is likely to be paid by the state and central governments. The management signed the agreement on July 1, 2025 agreeing to pay Rs. 42,000 in compensation to each of the families of the victims, according to a counter-affidavit filed by management. While some amount was paid, postdated checks were issued for the remaining amounts.
The company informed the high court that the employees who suffered serious and minor injuries were paid sums of rupees two lakh and rupees one lakh, while all medical expenses were borne by it. The senior counsel approached the court to ensure that the case was investigated on its merits and that the trial court was not under pressure to decide on the bail of the arrested persons in the backdrop of a PIL petition pending in the HC.
Amicus Curiae in the case, Dominic Fernandes, asked for more time to study the report submitted by the government and the various pieces of legislation that may be brought into play in the matter. Since it is “not controlling the investigation, the court adjourned the matter to January 29.
Published – 31 December 2025 21:00 IST
