In a significant legal development, police authorities in Maharashtra have dropped the non-bailable charge against Harsha Gopal Kadam, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Schaeffler India.
Kadam was taken into police custody earlier in the week under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, in connection with an investigation into a fatal industrial accident at the company's Talegaon manufacturing facility
The Talegaon MIDC Police Station under the Pimpri Chinchwad Police Commissionerate voluntarily dropped the charge, which was the sole non-bailable offence alleged against Kadam in connection with the June 9 carbon dioxide leak that resulted in two fatalities and four injuries.
Following the modification of charges, Kadam was released from police custody on a bail bond on October 22, 2026, pursuant to an order passed by the Judicial Magistrate First Class at Vadgaon Maval, Pune.
Concurrently, the Bombay High Court granted interim relief to Kadam in a criminal petition filed to quash the police investigation against him. By an interim order dated October 23, 2026, the High Court stayed all further investigative proceedings against Kadam and directed law enforcement authorities not to file any charge sheet or supplementary charge sheet against him pending further orders.
Kadam had originally been taken into police custody as the designated legal occupier of the manufacturing facility under the Factories Act following allegations of safety oversights during maintenance operations.