Naveen Jindal backs Vedanta chair Anil Agarwal, questions FIR in Chhattisgarh boiler blast probe

Lok Sabha MP Naveen Jindal has come out in support of Anil Agarwal, questioning the decision to name the Vedanta Group chairman in an FIR linked to a fatal boiler blast at a power plant in Chhattisgarh, even as he called for a thorough investigation and accountability, according to a statement by Vedanta unit Hindustan Zinc.

In a statement on Saturday, Jindal described the incident as a grave tragedy. “The tragedy in Chhattisgarh is deeply painful. 20 families have lost everything. Proper compensation, livelihood support for the families, and a thorough investigation are non-negotiable.”

Also Read: 16 killed, 20 injured in boiler blast at Chhattisgarh's Vedanta power plant


The remarks come after a boiler explosion at a power plant operated by Vedanta Limited in Singhitarai village in Chhattisgarh’s Sakti district on Tuesday killed 16 workers and injured at least 20 others, with some still feared trapped, according to police.

At the same time, he Jindal concerns over due process, saying: “But naming Shri @AnilAgarwal_Ved Ji in the FIR before any investigation raises serious concerns. He is a self-made man from a humble and backward community background who built a global enterprise from scratch. He had no role in that plant's operations.”

Jindal also pointed to what he termed an inconsistency in how accountability is fixed across sectors. “When accidents happen in PSU plants or Railways, do we name the Chairman? We do not. The same standard must apply to the private sector too.”

Also Read: FIR against Vedanta plant management officials, others after Chhattisgarh blast kills 20 workers

Underscoring the need for procedural fairness, he added: “Investigate first. Establish responsibility based on evidence. Then act.”

Linking the issue to investor sentiment, Jindal said: “India's #ViksitBharat vision needs people like Shri Anil Agarwal to keep investing and building. That happens only when investors trust the system.”

He also called on industry bodies, including the Confederation of Indian Industry, FICCI, ASSOCHAM, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Indian Chamber of Commerce, to speak up.

“Industry chambers @FollowCII, @ASSOCHAM4India, @ficci_india, @phdchamber and @ICC_Chamber, you have a responsibility beyond conferences and policy papers,” he said.

“When due process is bypassed and investor confidence is threatened, as in the case of the baseless FIR filed against Shri Anil Agarwal Ji, your silence is not neutrality. It is a failure of your core mandate.”

“Speak up for justice and what is right. That is what you exist for.”