Cong alleges FIR against Vedanta chairman meant to pressure sale of Sakti power plant

Raipur, Jul 14 (PTI) The opposition Congress in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday alleged that the case registered against Vedanta Group chairman Anil Agarwal over the fatal accident at the company's plant in Sakti district was a deliberate tactic to pressure him into selling the industrial facility. The Congress raised the issue during the Question Hour in the state assembly, and party MLAs later staged a walkout after expressing dissatisfaction over the government's response to queries about industrial accidents in the state. Citing government data, Leader of Opposition Charan Das Mahant stated that accidents were reported in 242 industries in Chhattisgarh between January 2024 and May 31, 2026, and these claimed hundreds of lives. He sought to know whether these accidents had occurred due to the failure to conduct safety audits, asking how many industrial safety audits had been carried out during the period. Mahant noted that 25 people had lost their lives in the blast that occurred at Vedanta's power plant in Sakti district, and seven victims were still undergoing treatment. An FIR had been registered against Vedanta chairman Anil Agarwal and 17 others, he said, and asked whether the police had visited Agarwal for questioning or arrest and any notice had been issued to him. Responding to the queries, Commerce and Industry Minister Lakhan Lal Dewangan said that the investigation was underway and strict action would be taken against persons found guilty. "The investigation is in progress. Whoever is found guilty will face action. The police have been working diligently, and no accused will be spared," he said. Senior Congress leader and former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel pointed out that a similar industrial accident had earlier occurred at Vedanta's Korba plant, but no FIR had been registered against the director at the time. Will the government henceforth register FIRs against company directors for every industrial accident that occurs in the state? he remarked. Dewangan stated that action would be taken against those found responsible for any incident. Baghel questioned whether the FIR against Agarwal was intended to pressure him into selling the facility. The exchange triggered heated arguments and sloganeering between the treasury and opposition benches, after which Congress legislators staged a walkout from the assembly expressing dissatisfaction over the minister's reply. PTI TKP ARU