A major fire that devastated a textile hub in Surat was not an accidental occurrence, according to local police investigations. Investigators have identified the suspect as Vinod Pandit Savle, a former employee of the business where the blaze originated. According to police reports, Savle utilized approximately Rs 150 worth of petrol and two matchsticks to ignite the shop, intending to target his former employer following a dispute over a relatively small sum of Rs 10,000.

The fire, which began in a single shop, quickly spiraled out of control and spread throughout the textile market, causing extensive destruction estimated at Rs 24 crore. Following the incident, Savle reportedly fled the city, traveling to Khatu Shyam and later to Ayodhya in an attempt to evade capture. He was apprehended by law enforcement officials upon his return to the area. The case highlights the severe consequences of the act, which escalated from a personal grievance into a large-scale industrial disaster.