Only 1 police complaint about machinery theft of Rs26k from MAPL unit

Nagpur: The mystery of heavy machinery worth crores missing from the plant of Maharashtra Antibiotics and Pharmaceuticals Limited (MAPL), Nagpur, turned murkier after it came to light on Monday that only one police complaint was filed about machinery theft so far, in 2016. The FIR said the cost of stolen machinery was just Rs Rs 26,000.
Interestingly, the FIR was not lodged by Pune-based Hindustan Antibiotics Limited (HAL), the parent company of the MAPL and a government of India undertaking, but by Bombay Security Services, Amravati, which had deployed guards at the plant.
TOI on Sunday reported that heavy machinery was found missing from the plant after an inspection by joint director of industries AP Dharmadhikari, former employee and union leader of the plant Suresh Gotmare, representative of former nominee director in MAPL—Environmental Engineering Inc (EEI)-- Sudhir Paliwal on May 17.
They visited the plant on directives of guardian minister Nitin Raut who was exploring the possibility of resuming the plant for production of vaccine, oxygen and medicines related to Covid.
Gotmare and Paliwal said the cost of missing machinery, equipment and materials is worth around Rs Rs 50 crore as per market value today.
After TOI’s report, MIDC police headed by PI Yuvraj Hande on Monday verified the FIR lodged by Bombay Security Services owner Ramesh Upadhyay on April 14, 2016. In the FIR, Upadhyay said that security guard Chandrashekhar Shelke between April 1 and 11 observed gate and windows of the plant broken and parts of machinery stolen from the first floor.
The police then conducted inspection and reported the cost of stolen machinery as Rs Rs 26,000. An offence under section 454, 457 and 380 of IPC too was registered against unidentified persons, according to the police records.
Another complaint was lodged with MIDC police by guard Shelke on December 30, 2020, which was related to theft of scrap. He also identified number plate of the vehicle and informed the police. An offence under section 379 of IPC was registered and the thieves were nabbed.
As per Gotmare and Paliwal, the plant was shut in 2003. HAL appointed Bombay Security Services in 2002.
Gotmare told TOI, “First of all missing of such heavy machinery is itself suspicious. Now, it is very much clear from the records of MIDC police that majority of machinery were not stolen. Also, the HAL, which never lodged any complaint with police, should bring back the machinery and resume the plant for the pandemic,” he said.
HAL managing director Nirja Saraf did not respond to TOI’s calls and messages.
On August 21, 2015, the then union minister of state for chemicals and fertilizers, Hansraj Ahir, had announced revival of the plant. Ahir, the then CM Devendra Fadnavis and Union minister Nitin Gadkari, Paliwal and former employees had found the machineries intact.
As per report of the Committee on Public Undertakings submitted in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on January 29 this year, the HAL had informed the committee of MPs that MSTC Limited was appointed as auctioning agency for MAPL’s plant. Even, the committee had recommended to sell the MAPL assets and repay dues.
Fadnavis and Raut have already expressed the machinery missing case a setback for resumption of the plant and demanded investigation.
Fadnavis has written letters to union ministers requesting to resume MAPL’s plant for production of vaccines and medicines related to the pandemic.
MISSING MACHINERY
*MAPL, Nagpur, was incorporated in 1979 as subsidiary of HAL, for manufacturing of dry powder, liquid injections, tablets, capsules etc
*MAPL got lease of 12.5 acres land at Hingna MIDC for 95 years
*Production started in 1981 and shut in 2003
*HAL appointed Bombay Security Services with 15 guards in 2002
*Ministers announced plant’s revival in 2015
*Machineries were intact and in running condition during the visits of ministers
*HAL reduced security guards from 15 to 3 in 2015
*Former employee filed intervention in HC pleading for resumption of plant for production of vaccine and medicines related to Covid-19
*Guardian minister Nitin Raut directed joint director of industries to visit and submit report
*All machineries, equipment, materials, electric wiring etc are missing
*Security agency filed only one complaint with police on April 14, 2016 informing theft of part of machinery between April 1 and 11
*Valuation of stolen machinery was Rs 26,000
*Security guard lodged another complaint with police on December 30, 2020 informing about theft of scrap on December 28, 2020
*Scrap’s cost was estimated at Rs 11,500