Jessop CEO Ashok Agarwal arrested over siphoning funds

Jessop CEO Ashok Agarwal was arrested on Tuesday for his alleged involvement in misappropriation of funds meant for employees of the company.

Agarwal was called by the CID for questioning over their alleged link to the theft and arson at the factory premises.

He was arrested for alleged involvement in misappropriation of funds related to factory employees’ provident funds, a senior police officer said.

During questioning, it came to light that there were 24 cases pending against the CEO in connection with misappropriation of the funds, the officer claimed.

The CID had also called Jessop’s general manager and finance manager for questioning, but they were allowed to go after the session was over, he said.

Pradip Nandi (18) and Jhantu Karmakar (21) were arrested last night from the Jessop factory premises in Dum Dum for their links to the alleged theft and arson there, taking the number of people arrested in the case to 15, a senior CID officer said.

Eight people were arrested on Monday for their alleged involvement in the incident while five persons were held last week.

The CID has also summoned Jessop owner Pawan Ruia in connection with the alleged theft and arson at the factory and asked him to appear on Wednesday.

A Special Investigating Team was formed by the CID to probe the theft at the factory premises. Last Monday, a fire had broken out in the painting department at the vacant factory premises, the third such incident in two weeks.

Former workers of the factory alleged that the fire was part of a “conspiracy by a third party”, following which the West Bengal government ordered a CID probe into the incident.

The state government has also registered a police complaint against Jessop owner Pawan Ruia.