Pune police have taken Schaeffler India Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Harsha Gopal Kadam into custody in connection with an investigation into a fatal accident at the company's Talegaon manufacturing facility, according to a regulatory filing by the company reported by Reuters and IANS on Tuesday, October 20.

The Talegaon MIDC Police Station, under the Pimpri Chinchwad Police Commissionerate, took Kadam into custody under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the company said in its filing.

The case traces back to an accident on the factory premises on June 9, 2026, when two workers employed by a service provider to the company died following a sudden discharge of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas during a scheduled cylinder replacement.

Schaeffler India said the matter has been under investigation by the authorities and that the company, its employees and officers, and the Managing Director have been cooperating with the investigation. "The scope of the investigation has now been expanded to involve the Managing Director, on the basis that he is the 'occupier' of the factory premises under applicable law, and the authority has taken the Managing Director into custody for investigation," the filing said, as reported by Autocar Professional and IANS.

The company said it will continue to cooperate with the authorities and is evaluating the developments in consultation with its legal advisers. It added that its senior management will continue to oversee day-to-day management and that business operations will continue in the ordinary course.

Sources: Schaeffler India regulatory filing; Reuters; IANS; Autocar Professional.