A dispute involving an alleged pending payment of Rs 10,000 reportedly escalated into a devastating fire that gutted 14 shops and destroyed textiles estimated to be worth around Rs 24 crore at Surat's Shyam Sangini Textile Market. Following several days of investigation, police said the September 9 blaze in the Saroli area was deliberately started and was allegedly planned by an accountant seeking revenge against his former employer.
The Surat Crime Branch arrested 33-year-old Vinod Pandit Sawale in connection with the incident. According to police, Sawale had worked as an accountant at a shop on the market's sixth floor and was allegedly upset with the owner over approximately Rs 10,000 that he claimed remained unpaid.
Police said Sawale joined the shop in April 2026 on a monthly salary of around Rs 30,000. A disagreement later arose between him and the owner regarding his work, eventually leading him to leave the job. Investigators believe the dispute over the alleged unpaid amount angered Sawale and led him to plan the fire.
Police also said Sawale had previously attempted to set the shop ablaze, but that effort was unsuccessful. He allegedly made another attempt later, this time procuring around Rs 150 worth of petrol.
HOW THE FIRE WAS ALLEGEDLY SET
CCTV footage captured a man entering the textile market with his face covered by a white handkerchief and a bag hanging from his shoulder. Police later identified the man as Sawale.
According to investigators, Sawale purchased petrol worth around Rs 150 from a fuel station in Devadh village. He carried the petrol in a plastic bag and a bottle before reaching the market at around 9 pm on September 8.
He reportedly remained near a staircase on the fifth floor until around 12.30 am, when the market had largely emptied. Police alleged that he then poured petrol over textile boxes and parcels placed outside the shop and set them alight before escaping.
The fire spread quickly and engulfed multiple shops. Around 14 shops were destroyed, along with textiles and other goods valued at several crores of rupees. According to police, firefighters took approximately 38 hours to bring the blaze under control.
1,500 CCTV CAMERAS HELPED CRACK CASE
Following the incident, Saroli Police filed a case against an unidentified accused and launched an investigation. The Crime Branch analysed footage from more than 1,500 CCTV cameras installed as part of Surat Police's 'Vishwas Project' Phase 2.
Investigators followed the suspect's movements by examining his routes before and after the incident. The CCTV trail eventually helped them identify Sawale.
Police said that after footage of the fire circulated on social media and he learned that an FIR had been registered, Sawale switched off his phone and left Surat along with his wife and child.
He initially travelled to Rajasthan's Khatu Shyam temple and later went to Ayodhya, according to police. After eventually returning to Surat, investigators received information about his location. A Crime Branch team deployed for Ganpati security duties arrested him near Flower Garden in Dindoli.
Sawale was later handed over to the Saroli Police Station.
RS 10,000 DISPUTE, RS 24 CRORE LOSS
Surat Additional Police Commissioner Karanraj Vaghela said the blaze caused an estimated loss of approximately Rs 25 crore, while the police investigation assessed the value of the destroyed textiles at around Rs 24 crore.
Investigators are questioning Sawale to determine the details of the alleged plan and how he obtained the petrol. Police are also looking into the role of the petrol pump operator who allegedly sold him the fuel.
The accused was taken to Shyam Sangini Textile Market for a reconstruction of the alleged sequence of events. During the exercise, he was seen standing with his hands folded.
According to the police investigation, what began as an alleged disagreement over Rs 10,000 ultimately resulted in a fire that destroyed textiles worth around Rs 24 crore.
