Industrialist Pawan Ruia being produced in a Barrackpore court on December 11, 2016 after he was arrested in a forgery case. FILE
For 68-year-old industrialist Pawan Ruia, the chairman of the Ruia Group, booked in a multi-crore cyberfraud racket case, this is not the first time he has hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
He was arrested by the CID in 2016 in a Rs 50 crore forgery case, filed by the Indian Railways.
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Known for acquiring companies and attempting to revive several ailing public sector undertakings (PSUs) in West Bengal, which earned him the sobriquet of ‘Turnaround Tycoon’, Pawan Ruia shot to fame after the Ruia Group, a company which he founded in 1993, took over Jessop & Co – a 225-year-old heavy engineering PSU.
Very recently, in 2021, he had shown interest in acquiring Air India, meeting the required Rs 3,500 crore net worth criteria.
In 2005, when the Left Front was in power in West Bengal, the Ruia Group acquired Dunlop India Ltd and Falcon Tyres Ltd.
Pawan Ruia, considered close to the then chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, had promised to revive the company and help in generating jobs. Within a year, Dunlop’s Sahagunj factory was reopened, and the company was out of the purview of the Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR) in 2007.
However, plaguing labour issues at the Dunlop, as well as Jessop, units led to a record minimal output, and Jessop was shut down in 2014 – three years after the TMC came to power in the state.
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His face-off with the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government began after she questioned his failings. The state government eventually passed two separate legislations in February 2016 to take over the management and control of Jessop and Dunlop from the Ruia Group.
The same year, the industrialist was investigated by the West Bengal CID for his alleged role in a series of fires and thefts at the closed Jessop unit. He was charged under IPC sections 435, 436 (mischief by fire/explosive substance), and 120B (criminal conspiracy).
Born on December 10, 1957, in Pipri, Uttar Pradesh, Pawan Ruia graduated from Kolkata’s St Xavier’s College and earned a law degree from the University of Calcutta. He holds degrees in Chartered Accountancy, Cost Accountancy, and Company Secretaryship.
Sweety Kumari is a seasoned journalist reporting from West Bengal for The Indian Express. With over a decade of experience in the media industry and eight years specifically with The Indian Express, she demonstrates considerable Expertise and Authority across a diverse range of critical beats.
Experience & Authority
Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express, reporting from West Bengal.
Extensive Tenure: Over 10 years of experience in the media industry, with a long association (8 years) with The Indian Express, contributing to a high level of Trustworthiness.
Diverse Coverage: Covers crucial beats including Crime, Defence, Health, and Politics, alongside writing on trending topics.
Investigative Focus: Possesses a keen eye for investigative and human-interest stories, demonstrating depth and skill in impactful journalism.
Beat Versatility: Has honed her craft across diverse beats, including aviation and reporting on various incidents, ensuring well-rounded and comprehensive reportage.
Career Start: Began her journalistic journey as an Entertainment and lifestyle journalist with a news portal in Kolkata, providing a foundational understanding of media landscape and audience engagement.
Education
Advanced Education: Holds a PG in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University, equipping her with advanced media theory and skills.
Undergraduate Education: Holds an Honours degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College.
Multilingual Skill: Her fluency in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili enhances her reach and capability to connect with diverse sources and communities in the region, adding a layer of accessibility and authenticity to her reporting.
Regional Roots: Originally from Bihar, she was brought up and educated in Kolkata (Kendriya Vidyalaya Salt Lake), giving her a deep, personal understanding of the cultural and political nuances of her reporting region.
Sweety Kumari's combination of significant experience, specialization in key beats like Crime and Politics, and strong academic background makes her a trusted and authoritative contributor to The Indian Express. ... Read More
