A massive fire broke out at the Shyam Sangini Textile Market in the Saroli area of Surat, Gujarat, on September 9, 2026. Initially believed to be an accidental fire, the incident was later investigated by the Surat Crime Branch, which reportedly found that it was a deliberate act of arson linked to a salary dispute. According to the investigation, a former accountant allegedly set fire to textile stock to take revenge over ₹10,000 in pending salary. The blaze caused extensive damage to fabric and other goods, with the estimated loss reaching ₹24 crore. Police arrested the accused, identified as Vinod Pandit Sayle, also spelled Sawale, a 33-year-old accountant originally from Dhule, Maharashtra. Investigators said the incident was planned to appear like an outside robbery.
Who Was the Accused and What Was the Motive?
Vinod Pandit Sayle was reportedly hired in April 2026 at Shop No. 639, where he received a monthly salary of ₹30,000. However, he reportedly struggled with managing the accounts and left, or was asked to leave, in June after approximately three months of employment. According to the details of the investigation, Sayle claimed that his employer had withheld ₹10,000 of his pending salary. He also alleged that he had faced repeated workplace harassment, scolding and criticism from the shop owner and a senior accountant. These experiences reportedly left him feeling humiliated. Investigators said his frustration over the unpaid amount and his desire to teach his former employer a lesson led him to plan the fire. The alleged motive turned a workplace dispute into an incident that caused significant losses for multiple traders.
How the Fire Was Started
The incident reportedly took place during the night between September 8 and September 9, 2026. According to the investigation, Sayle purchased petrol worth ₹150 before entering the wholesale textile market after business hours. He allegedly poured the fuel over large bales and parcels of cloth stacked outside his former employer’s shop, set them on fire and fled the scene. The fire spread rapidly because the market contained highly flammable materials, including dress fabrics, saris and packaging inventory. Firefighters battled the blaze for nearly 14 hours before bringing it under control. The fire completely gutted the sixth floor of the complex and heavily damaged the fifth floor. Between 14 and 17 shops belonging to multiple traders were reportedly destroyed, with stock worth approximately ₹24 crore reduced to ashes.
How the Police Investigation Uncovered the Case
The Surat Crime Branch investigated the incident after it was initially treated as a possible accidental fire. During the investigation, detectives reviewed footage from more than 1,500 CCTV cameras installed across the market and surrounding areas. According to the investigation, surveillance footage captured a man with his face covered deliberately starting the fire. The footage helped investigators examine the incident and trace the suspected perpetrator. Police initially registered a case of cheating and criminal breach of trust at Bapod Police Station, as described in the case details. Further investigation reportedly revealed that the fire had been orchestrated to make it appear that outsiders had stolen goods from the shop. The detailed CCTV review played a crucial role in connecting the dots and identifying the accused.
The Accused’s Flight and Arrest
Following the fire, Sayle reportedly left Gujarat and travelled to Rajasthan and Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh to evade capture. Investigators continued tracking his movements. According to the case details, he eventually returned to Surat, believing that the situation had settled down. On September 21, 2026, the Surat Crime Branch tracked him down and arrested him in the Dindoli area of the city. He subsequently confessed to the crime during interrogation, according to the information provided. The arrest marked a major development in the investigation into the fire that had caused extensive damage to the textile market. His return to Surat proved to be his undoing, as the Crime Branch had been monitoring his movements throughout his time away from the city.
Conclusion
The Shyam Sangini Textile Market fire in Surat resulted in an estimated ₹24 crore loss after a blaze destroyed stock and damaged multiple shops. The Surat Crime Branch investigation reportedly linked the incident to a former accountant’s alleged attempt to take revenge over ₹10,000 in pending salary. The case highlights how a workplace dispute can have serious consequences when it escalates into a destructive act, affecting not only the people directly involved but also multiple traders whose businesses and stock suffered heavy losses. The arrest of the accused on September 21, 2026, brought a significant breakthrough in a case that had initially appeared to be an accidental fire.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the Surat textile market fire case?
A1. It is a case of alleged arson at the Shyam Sangini Textile Market in Saroli, Surat, where a fire caused an estimated ₹24 crore loss on the night between September 8 and 9, 2026.
Q2. Who was arrested in the Surat textile market fire case?
A2. Vinod Pandit Sayle, a 33-year-old former accountant from Dhule, Maharashtra, was arrested by the Surat Crime Branch on September 21, 2026, in the Dindoli area of Surat.
Q3. What was the motive behind the fire?
A3. According to the investigation, Sayle allegedly set the fire to take revenge over ₹10,000 in pending salary and alleged workplace harassment by his former employer and a senior accountant.
Q4. How was the accused identified?
A4. The Surat Crime Branch reviewed footage from more than 1,500 CCTV cameras across the market and surrounding areas. The footage captured a man with his face covered deliberately starting the fire, which helped investigators trace the suspect.
Q5. How much damage did the fire cause?
A5. The fire completely gutted the sixth floor and heavily damaged the fifth floor of the complex. Between 14 and 17 shops were destroyed, with stock worth approximately ₹24 crore reduced to ashes. Firefighters took nearly 14 hours to bring the blaze under control.