This is an archive article published on January 13, 2025
2 fire station employees ‘set 3 factories ablaze’ to steal diesel from fire truck, arrested in Jaipur
Police said the accused, fireman Vijay Sharma (25) and driver Rahul Yadav (23), used to set factories on fire and steal diesel from fire tenders during their trips to extinguish the fire and sell it in the market for profit.
Two contractual employees of a fire station in Jaipur were arrested on Sunday for allegedly setting fire to at least three factories.
Police said the accused, fireman Vijay Sharma (25) and driver Rahul Yadav (23), used to set factories on fire and steal diesel from fire tenders during their trips to extinguish the fire and sell it in the market for profit.
Both of them were working as contractual employees in the fire station of Sarna Dungar under Kardhani police station, Jaipur. They were hired through a private contractor after they submitted experience certificates for firefighting and driving, police said.
“During our investigation into multiple incidents of fire in various factories, Kardhani police station in-charge Harish Solanki received an input that the arson in Sarna Dungar (Kardhani) of RIICO area was perpetrated by miscreants who came on bikes. We later searched CCTV footage of the area which led to the arrest of the accused,” Assistant Commissioner of Police (West) Amit Budaniya said.
To verify the information given by an informer, the police have prepared a route map after inspecting videos from about 100 CCTV cameras and did a technical data analysis of the suspects, officials said.
During questioning, Rahul and Vijay admitted to setting fire to three factories, police said.
According to police, the duo set fire to a plastic factory in November 2024, in which an estimated loss of about Rs 14-15 lakh was reported, another factory, Ram Industries, on December 24, 2024, (loss of about Rs 5 lakh) and Riya Organic Factory on January 7 this year in which an estimated Rs 14 lakh of loss was reported.
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Police said the accused used to travel to the factories on motorcycle wearing masks and set fire and then return to the fire station. When they get information about the fire from the control room, they would go to the spot with the fire brigade vehicle. While extinguishing the fire, they would show more diesel consumption than the amount consumed by the fire brigade vehicle and get the bills cleared, police explained.
Parul Kulshrestha is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, based in Rajasthan. A lawyer turned journalist, she brings a unique cross-disciplinary perspective to her reporting, blending legal precision with deep social inquiry to cover one of India's most culturally and politically vibrant regions.
Expertise and Experience
Legal-Journalistic Synergy: Parul’s transition from a legal background to mainstream journalism provides her with a distinct advantage in interpreting policy, legislation, and judicial impacts. This expertise allows her to "read between the lines" of government orders and court rulings affecting the public.
Diverse Beat: With years of experience across both mainstream newsrooms and independent journalism, she has built high-level authority in several critical areas:
Nomadic Tribes & Marginalized Communities: She is recognized for her sensitive and in-depth reporting on the struggles and rights of Rajasthan's nomadic populations, often giving a voice to those outside the traditional political spotlight.
Gender & Social Justice: Parul focuses on the intersection of law and gender, covering issues ranging from women’s safety and reproductive rights to the socio-economic empowerment of rural women.
Environmental & Political Reporting: She tracks Rajasthan’s complex political landscape—including electoral shifts and bureaucratic changes—alongside critical environmental concerns like water scarcity and land use.
Academic & Professional Pedigree: Her background as a lawyer, combined with her rise to the rank of Principal Correspondent at a national broadsheet, establishes her as a senior voice in the media landscape. ... Read More
