Sigachi Factory blast: Telangana HC summons investigating officer over probe delay

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Thursday expressed grave concern over the inordinate delay in completing the investigation into the Sigachi Factory explosion at Pashamylaram, Sultanpur village, Patancheru Mandal of Sangareddy district.

The tragic industrial disaster on June 30 claimed the lives of 46 workers and left 28 others critically injured.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice Ghouse Meera Mohiuddin, while hearing a Public Interest Litigation, directed the Investigating Officer to appear before the Court on December 9 with all relevant case records, including the case diary, FIR, FSL reports and details of the investigation conducted so far.

Court questions delay, seeks accountability

During the hearing, the Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh expressed displeasure at the prolonged and incomplete investigation, remarking that the matter was ‘far more serious than an ordinary murder or rape case’ and ought to have been concluded by now.

Turning to Additional Advocate General T Rajnikanth Reddy, the Chief Justice questioned why the State Government had not constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) despite the gravity of the incident.

PIL seeks full compensation for victims

The PIL was filed by Kalapala Babu Rao, a retired scientist and resident of Nacharam, Hyderabad, seeking a direction to the Telangana Government to pay full and final compensation to the families of deceased workers and to those injured in the explosion.

Appearing for the petitioner, advocate Vasudha Nagaraj submitted that 54 workers, most of them migrant labourers from other States, had lost their lives and 8 workers remain missing.

She argued that while the police registered an FIR (No. 199/2025), there has been no progress in tracing the missing workers or investigating their status. She further highlighted that the families of victims were still awaiting compensation.

State claims progress in probe

The Additional Advocate General informed the Court that the investigation is being handled by a DSP-rank officer, 231 witnesses have been examined, and the Government is taking steps to ensure compensation to the families of the deceased and injured.

The Division Bench adjourned the matter to December 9, directing the Investigating Officer to personally appear with complete records for further hearing.