Indo Rama top officials seek bail in shooting case

The top management at Indo Rama Synthetics (India) Ltd's unit at Butibori here has approached the sessions court to seek anticipatory bail apprehending arrests by the Nagpur (rural) police in connection with Saturday's firing incident at the unit.

Two senior management officials including R S Singhvi, sub-business unit head (Spun), and H S Shekhawat, vice-president and chief of human resource development department""along with junior officers like Chand Khandelwal and Anant Kishore "" have approached the court for anticipatory bail.

Fourth additional sessions judge, S B Sukre, has asked the prosecution to file its reply and respond to the anticipatory bail application.

Meanwhile, the company management, on Monday evening, termed the incident as unfortunate, denied any conspiracy by the management and urged workers to report back on duty and assured them of an early settlement of the wage pact.

Addressing a press conference here late Monday evening, Singhvi said Indo Rama was not directly connected with the incident.

The workers were attending the inaugural meeting of a union established for contract workers of all industries in Butibori MIDC. The meeting happened to be held in front of Indo Rama as it is the largest unit in the area, he said.

Singhvi said the incident did not arise out of any industrial dispute involving the company's regular workers. The meeting in front of the company gate was that of contract workers, he reiterated. A small incident was blown out of proportion, he said, adding that he did not rule out the possibility of "some politics being played out".

Singhvi stoutly denied any conspiracy on part of the management in the incident, as alleged by Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi. "I am aghast and pained by the allegation. How can the company conspire against itself?" he pointed out.There are nearly 3,000 regular workers and around 800 contract workers in Indo Rama, he informed.

Production at the unit had come to a standstill immediately after the shoot-out and the ensuing destruction of the company property by agitated workers, on Saturday evening.

Singhvi said the company suffered losses running into crores on account of loss to property and production. Its daily production is around 950 tonne, he said. Even after all workers return to work, it will take two to three days to get the plant re-started, he said.

The incident has given a big setback to industrialisation in Vidarbha and Maharashtra, he said. Indo Rama has made a long-term commitment in Vidarbha and will go ahead with its Rs 1,100 crore expansion plan in Butibori, he said.