HAL’s apathy reason behind theft of MAPL machinery: Security

Nagpur: In the case of heavy machinery worth several crore missing from the Maharashtra Antibiotics and Pharmaceuticals Limited (MAPL) plant in Nagpur, the supervisor and guards of the security agency have reportedly stated that apathy of the Hindustan Antibiotics Limited (HAL), Pune, towards security of the plant was one of the reasons behind the theft.The MIDC police had closed the complaint lodged by its union leader Suresh Gotmare.
On June 13, TOI had reported about the machinery going missing mysteriously from the plant and HAL, which is parent company of the MAPL, not registering any complaint. The plant was shut in 2003 and the machinery was intact till 2015. They went missing after the company’s revival was announced in 2015.
The Bombay Security Services, engaged by MAPL, had lodged a complaint with the MIDC police about theft of machinery worth Rs 26,000 on April 14, 2016.
After a series of reports by TOI, the HAL on July 26 lodged a complaint with the MIDC police informing theft of machinery and equipment worth Rs 75,74,100. The police had registered an offence against unidentified thieves, supervisor and guards of security agency.
Police from MIDC police said that the statement of supervisors and guards of the security agency was recorded. “They have to say that they informed HAL officials many times about machinery being stolen from the plant from 2016. They also said HAL engaged 15 guards in 2002 but reduced it to three in 2015. They added that a part of the compound wall was demolished from where thieves used to enter. It was not repaired by HAL. They also informed that tall grass and bushes made it difficult to take security rounds. Even, power supply was not available,” the police said.
Visit to scrap vendors is going on and further investigation is also underway, they added.
51 days after HAL’s complaint, the police is yet to make any headway. “We have booked the supervisor and guards of security agency but they can be arrested only if we get evidence,” they said.
Gotmare told TOI that stringent action should be taken against HAL officials. “It was the only government-run medicine manufacturing unit in Vidarbha and would have helped a lot in the ongoing pandemic,” he said.