A Surat textile market fire has led to the arrest of a former accountant after police linked the blaze to a dispute over an alleged unpaid salary of ₹10,000.
According to Indian media reports, the fire broke out on September 9 at the Shyam Sangini Textile Market in Surat. The blaze reportedly spread across several adjoining shops and caused estimated losses of around ₹24 crore.
Police arrested 33-year-old Vinod Savle, a native of Dhule in Maharashtra, in connection with the incident.
Investigators allege that Savle deliberately started the fire at the shop of his former employer, Hanuman Prasad Zawar.
Former Employee Allegedly Held Grudge Over Unpaid Salary
Police said Savle began working as an accountant at Zawar’s shop in April 2026. He reportedly earned a monthly salary of ₹30,000.
According to investigators, Savle claimed that Zawar still owed him ₹10,000 when he left the job.
Savle also allegedly told police that Zawar and another accountant repeatedly questioned his work. He claimed that they harassed him during his employment.
Police suspect that the workplace dispute may have motivated him to retaliate against his former employer.
However, investigators have not established the allegations in court.
Police Suspect Petrol Was Used to Start Fire
Investigators allege that Savle bought petrol from a fuel station on September 8.
Police claim he carried the fuel in a plastic bag before returning to the textile market the following day.
According to the investigation, Savle allegedly set fire to goods stored outside his former employer’s shop. The flames then spread rapidly to nearby premises.
The fire reportedly damaged 17 shops, numbered 601 to 617.
As a result, several traders who had no connection to the salary dispute also suffered major losses.
Textile Market Closure Adds to Traders’ Problems
The fire caused significant disruption at the textile complex. Authorities later shut the market after reportedly finding fire-safety violations.
The closure created another problem for traders already dealing with losses from the blaze. Restricted access to their shops also disrupted normal business operations.
Meanwhile, police continue to investigate the alleged arson. Investigators are also assessing the circumstances that led to the fire and the total financial damage.
Police Investigation Continues
The case highlights how a relatively small workplace dispute can allegedly escalate into a much larger incident.
Police have attributed the fire to the former employee based on their ongoing investigation. However, the allegations against Savle remain unproven in court.
Further investigation will determine what happened before the blaze and whether the accused will face additional charges.
For now, the Surat textile market fire investigation remains ongoing, while affected traders deal with the financial and business consequences of the incident.
