Dewas, The police have finally arrested Mukesh Vij—the prime accused who had been absconding in connection with the firecracker factory blast incident in Tonkkala, Dewas district—at Delhi Airport. It is reported that the accused had been hiding in China for a considerable period; the moment he returned to India, security agencies and the police apprehended him right at the airport. This arrest is being hailed as a major breakthrough in the case, as the police had been conducting continuous raids in search of him ever since the blast occurred.

According to reports, the firecracker factory explosion in the Tonkkala area of ​​Dewas Tehsil sent shockwaves across the entire state of Madhya Pradesh. The blast was so massive that its sound could be heard several kilometers away. Due to the presence of a large quantity of explosive material stored within the factory, the fire spread rapidly, resulting in the deaths of several individuals and leaving numerous laborers critically injured. Following the incident, the administration and the police registered a case against the factory operators on charges of gross negligence in operations and the illegal storage of explosives.

During the investigation, the police discovered that the factory operator—and prime accused—Mukesh Vij had fled the country and gone abroad immediately after the blast. The police, in coordination with central agencies, had issued a lookout notice against him. Following continuous surveillance, intelligence was received indicating that Mukesh Vij was scheduled to return to Delhi from China. Consequently, security agencies and a team from the Madhya Pradesh Police were placed on high alert at Delhi Airport. Reports suggest that the moment Mukesh Vij arrived at the International Arrivals Terminal of Delhi Airport on an international flight, he was identified during the immigration clearance process; the police team, already stationed there, immediately took him into custody. Strict security measures were in place at the airport during the arrest. The process to transport the accused from Delhi to Madhya Pradesh for interrogation was initiated immediately. According to police officials, Mukesh Vij will now be questioned regarding why safety regulations were not adhered to within the factory, the validity of the license for the explosive materials, and the exact quantity of gunpowder stored in the factory at the time of the blast. Investigative agencies are also working to ascertain how the accused planned to flee abroad following the incident, and who assisted him in doing so. Several administrative and security-related questions have previously been raised regarding the Tonkkala blast case. Local residents had alleged that safety regulations at the factory had been disregarded for a considerable period, yet no timely action was taken. Now, following the arrest of the prime accused, the investigation into the case is expected to gain further momentum.
In photographs of the arrest emerging from Delhi Airport, Mukesh Vij can be seen amidst police personnel. The police state that the accused will be produced in court and taken into remand to facilitate the unearthing of the entire network and to reveal the roles played by other individuals involved in the factory's operations.