The Telangana High Court has made a significant clarification regarding the ongoing legal proceedings in the tragic Sigachi Industries explosion case. On Wednesday, December 31, 2025, a division bench explicitly stated that the trial court handling the criminal case is under no pressure due to a related Public Interest Litigation (PIL) being heard by the high court.
Court's Assurance on Judicial Independence
A bench comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice G M Mohiuddin delivered this observation. The clarification came after the court considered submissions from senior counsel S Niranjan Reddy, representing Sigachi Industries Limited. Counsel Reddy had expressed a concern and requested an assurance that the trial court would not feel influenced by the pendency of the PIL before the higher court.
The bench firmly addressed this, stating, "We don't expect also that our magistrates would be acting under any kind of pressure that the matter is otherwise before this court. They would exercise their discretion as per the materials that are produced by the prosecuting agency and your defence." The judges emphasized that the high court's role in the PIL was limited to eliciting information on two fronts: the compensation for victims and the progress of the investigation, not controlling or monitoring the probe itself.
Progress in Investigation and Compensation
The court was apprised of several key developments in the case. Additional Advocate General (AAG) T Rajinikanth Reddy informed the bench that the investigation is nearly complete and a chargesheet will be filed soon. He disclosed that the company's managing director and CEO, listed as accused number 2, has been arrested. However, accused numbers 3 to 7 are currently absconding.
On the critical issue of compensation, the AAG stated that Rs 22.3 crore has been disbursed so far to the families of the deceased, the missing, and the injured employees. The court also noted that eight missing persons have now been officially identified as dead, and the process to disburse compensation to their families is underway.
However, the petitioner's counsel, Advocate Vasudha Nagaraj, representing K Babu Rao, pointed out a discrepancy. She contended that the company's counter affidavit shows compensation of only about Rs 42 lakh per deceased kin, remaining silent on earlier company statements promising Rs 1 crore.
Case Adjourned for Three Weeks
The bench also took note of the counter affidavit filed by Sigachi Industries, which stated the company's full cooperation with investigating agencies. The court acknowledged that while compensation and statutory amounts have been paid, this may not represent the final settlement of all claims.
Amicus curiae Dominic Fernandes requested more time to analyse the detailed report from the state and the applicable legislations. Considering all submissions, the court adjourned the matter for three weeks. The next hearing in the Telangana High Court has been scheduled for January 29, 2026.
The industrial explosion at the Sigachi Industries factory in Sangareddy district on June 30 resulted in the death of 54 people and left several others injured, making it one of the most severe industrial accidents in the state's recent history.
