Maruti factory violence verdict: A brief history of the case

The case concerning the July 2012 violence in Maruti’s Manesar plant, that left a senior HR executive dead and nearly 100 other officials injured, culminated with the conviction of 31 workers and acquittal of 117 of their colleagues on Friday.

The case concerning the July 2012 violence in Maruti Suzuki car manufacturing plant in Manesar, that left a senior HR executive dead and nearly 100 other officials injured, culminated with the conviction of 31 workers and acquittal of 117 of their colleagues on Friday.

Thirteen accused have been held guilty of murder whereas 18 are convicted of rioting and other crimes under various sections of the IPC. The quantum of punishment will be pronounced on March 17.(Sanjeev Verma/HT Photo)

The incident was reportedly triggered by a disciplinary issue with an employee. The unions called for his reinstatement immediately, besides making several other demands, including same salary for contract workers as permanent employees, which were not heeded to by the management.

Here is the brief sequence of the case:

July 18, 2012: A mob of workers go on rampage at the Maruti Suzuki plant in Manesar, setting afire a building in which a beaten up Awanish Kumar Dev, general manager (human resources) of Maruti Suzuki, was burned to death, and 100 others, including two Japanese officials, were injured.

The two factories are partially set on fire and the offices, security cabins and fire safety systems are completely damaged. As many as 91 workers are arrested. The plant is shut indefinitely

July 19, 2012: Haryana government orders probe by a special investigation team even as the company sacks more than 540 of the 1,500 permanent workers at the Manesar plant

Police arrest 148 workers. A complaint was filed by Deepak Anand, the then general manager of the plant, against 600 workers for murder, attempt to murder, property damage, rioting, and manhandling

July 21, 2012: Police conduct raids in the city and adjoining villages to arrest the main accused. Teams are sent across Haryana, Rajashtan and Himachal Pradesh to nab them

August 21, 2012: Maruti Suzuki resumes production at its plant amid heavy security. About 1,500 policemen, including 540 from the India Reserve Battalion, are deployed in and outside the plant

March 2015: Gurgaon district court grants bail to 77 of the 145 workers

February 2, 2017: Counsels for accused and prosecution, argue on number of workers arrested, and other facts of the case

February 19, 2017: Senior advocate Vrinda Grover argues that 112 of the accused were not identified by any of the prosecution witnesses. Court fixes March 10 for the final verdict

March 10, 2017: Court convicts 31 and acquits 117 factory workers of Manesar plant. Thirteen accused have been held guilty of murder whereas 18 are convicted of rioting and other crimes under various sections of the IPC. The quantum of punishment will be pronounced on March 17.