Jessop factory fire sparked deliberately: Forensic experts

Forensic experts, who visited the premises of Jessop's Dum Dum factory today, are of the opinion that the fire which broke out there last week was sparked "deliberately", a senior CID officer said.
"The primary opinion of the forensic experts is that the fire was intentional," the officer said.
This is the opinion of the forensic experts as per the circumstantial evidences and the specimens they have collected from the site. The CID is waiting for the laboratory report to know the exact cause of the fire, the officer said.
A team of forensic experts and CID sleuths visited the factory at Dum Dum along with a few of those arrested for their alleged involvement in the theft and arson there.

Forensic experts collected samples of burnt particles from the site inside the factory premises where the fire broke out last week, a senior official of the CID said.
For the reconstruction of theft cases, four of the arrested were taken to the factory premises, he said.

"They have showed us the exit route through which the stolen materials used to be taken out of the factory premises," he said.
Meanwhile, sources in the CID said Ruia Group chairman Pawan Ruia is likely to appear before CID sleuths tomorrow.
"We have got some information that Ruia may visit us tomorrow morning. We have also summoned Jessop's former senior officials Ashok Agarwal and Mahesh Gupta tomorrow for questioning," he said.

The Calcutta High Court yesterday had refused to stay proceedings against Ruia in connection with a case filed by the CID following a fire at Jessop's factory and directed him to cooperate in the investigation.