 "Pawan Ruia")
A Criminal Investigation Department (CID) team from West Bengal on Saturday arrested Ruia Group Chairman Pawan Ruia from his residence in the upscale Sundar Nagar area in the national capital, in connection with a complaint of theft lodged by the railways last month.
Confirming the arrest a senior CID officer said he had been booked under IPC sections 420 (cheating), 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant, or by banker, merchant or agent). Delhi Police assisted the CID team.
The railways ministry had lodged a complaint after alleged theft of its goods from a factory of Jessop and Company, in which Ruia had a controlling stake earlier, at Dum Dum in Kolkata. Despite repeated pleas from the railways, seeking report on the progress of the assignment or the status of the material, Ruia or the company failed to provide any information.
Ruia had been repeatedly summoned by the CID in connection with a probe on the recurring incidents of fire inside the closed factory. But, he had failed to answer the summons.
A company spokesperson said the factory owner was taken ill on November 2, while boarding a flight from New Delhi to Kolkata and was undergoing medical treatment at a hospital in the national capital.
The CID had moved court asking for Ruia’s arrest, but had been turned down.
On Saturday (December 10), upon learning that Ruia has been discharged from the hospital, the West Bengal CID moved ahead with its plan.
Jessop & Co was part of the Ruia Group until the West Bengal government passed legislations in February this year to take over the enterprise. However, the state’s parliamentary affairs minister, Partha Chatterjee, had previously clarified that despite the West Bengal government being the owner, Ruia was “the occupier in Jessop premises” till the time the Bill became an Act.
A Ruia Group spokesperson said, “Pawan Ruia does not hold any position in Jessop & Co. He is neither a director, nor a shareholder of the company. He is not even an occupier of any of the Jessop premises. We fail to understand how he can be dragged into this case. We will contest all the charges brought against him in the proper legal forum.”
Timeline –
2003: Pawan Ruia led Ruia Group picks up majority in Jessop & Co. Central government becomes a minority shareholder
2012: Labour issues erupt in Jessop. Series of lockouts begin
2014: Jessop & Co finally suspends operations. The then West Bengal labour minister Purnendu Bose comes down heavily upon Ruia to figure out a solution or face the wrath of the state administration
February 2016: West Bengal state government passes Jessop and Company Ltd (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertaking) Bill, 2016 to gain managerial control
March 2016: West Bengal government starts paying the Jessop and Co-workers wages
October 2016: Repeated incidents of fire and theft reported in Jessop & Co factory premises. West Bengal government asks CID to investigate the matter
November 2016: West Bengal CID moves court to arrest Pawan Ruia alleging non-cooperation in the investigation process. Court rejects plea. Ruia hospitalised in New Delhi
December 2016: West Bengal CID arrests Pawan Ruia from New Delhi based on complaints from Indian Railways
