Surat Police has solved the massive fire at Shyam Sangini Textile Market in Saroli area that caused an estimated loss of Rs 24 crore. The accused is former accountant Vinod Salve, a resident of Dhule, Maharashtra. He was arrested on September 21 from Dindoli area. Police said Salve joined a textile firm on the 6th floor in April 2026 on a Rs 30,000 salary.
He quit a month ago after alleged harassment by senior accountant and owner, and claimed Rs 10,000 salary was pending. After repeated follow-ups, he decided to take revenge. As per Additional CP Karanraj Vaghela, Salve bought Rs 150 petrol from a pump in Dindoli a day before the incident. On the night of September 8, after shops closed, he entered the 6th floor corridor where saree and dress material packets were stacked for Navratri and Diwali dispatch. CCTV shows him in black shirt, light pants, face covered with cloth and dark glasses, sprinkling petrol and lighting fire with a matchstick.
He completed the act in about 4 minutes and fled on a bike. Fire brigade got the call at 12:50 AM and took 14 hours to douse the blaze. All shops on 6th floor and some on 5th floor were gutted.After arson, he fled to Rajasthan and Ayodhya and returned to Surat on September 20, when Crime Branch tracked and arrested him.
