INDUSTRIAL SAFETY UNDER SCRUTINY AS SCHAEFFLER INDIA CHIEF ARRESTED OVER FATAL PUNE CO₂ LEAK
October 22, 2026
PUNE, OCTOBER 22: Harsha Kadam, chief executive officer of Schaeffler India, has been arrested in connection with a carbon dioxide gas leak at the company’s manufacturing facility in Pune district that killed two workers and hospitalised three others in June.
Kadam was taken into custody on October 19, making him the eighth person arrested in the case, police said on Wednesday. The incident occurred on June 9 at the company’s facility in the Talegaon MIDC industrial area while maintenance work was being carried out on a carbon dioxide-based fire suppression system.
According to police, the maintenance operation involved replacing a cylinder in the system on the ground floor of the premises. Carbon dioxide leaked during the work, affecting five workers. Two subsequently died, while three others required hospitalisation.
Talegaon MIDC police station inspector Vijayanand Patil said the maintenance work had allegedly been undertaken without the necessary permissions from the relevant authorities.
CEO HOSPITALISED AFTER MEDICAL EXAMINATION
Following Kadam’s arrest, he underwent a medical examination during which doctors found that his blood pressure was elevated. On medical advice, he was referred to a hospital, where he remained admitted, Patil said.
Police informed the court about his medical condition. According to the inspector, the court directed the police to produce Kadam after his treatment, with the timing dependent on medical advice.
The case has been registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, causing death by negligence, and acts endangering human life or personal safety.
Seven other accused had already been arrested in connection with the incident, and a chargesheet against them had been filed before a local court.
MAINTENANCE OPERATION AT CENTRE OF INVESTIGATION
The fatal incident occurred while employees of a private contractor and staff members of the engineering company were involved in maintenance work on the fire suppression system. The police investigation is examining the circumstances in which the carbon dioxide cylinder was being replaced and the alleged absence of required authorisations.
Schaeffler India operates in the automotive, industrial and aerospace sectors. Its Talegaon plant manufactures engine and transmission components, including systems used in vehicle powertrains and needle roller bearings.
The company is the Indian subsidiary of Germany-headquartered Schaeffler Group and is listed on Indian stock exchanges.
The arrest brings the company’s chief executive into the criminal investigation into the deaths. The case centres on the circumstances surrounding the maintenance operation, the gas leak and the alleged safety and authorisation failures that preceded the tragedy
