Nagpur: In a significant development in the SBL Energy Limited explosion case, police have registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the company’s owner and other senior officials. The offence has been lodged at Kalmeshwar Police Station following directions from Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule.
The explosion at the SBL Energy Limited plant claimed the lives of 19 workers and left 23 others injured, making it one of the deadliest industrial accidents in the Nagpur district in recent years. Initially, 18 workers had succumbed to their injuries. However, on Monday morning, another injured worker, identified as 35-year-old Ranjana Uttam Ghagre, died during treatment at Orange City Hospital and Research Institute, taking the death toll to 19.
Apart from company owner Sanjay Chaudhary, other directors, the plant head and the manager have also been named in the FIR. The charges under BNS Section 105 pertain to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, indicating serious lapses that allegedly led to the fatal blast.
Authorities stated that instructions had been issued to invoke the stringent provision considering the gravity of the incident and the scale of casualties. The Kalmeshwar Police have initiated further investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the explosion and determine accountability at various operational levels within the company.
A crucial review meeting regarding the next course of action in the SBL Energy Limited explosion case is scheduled to be held at 10 am on Monday, March 2, at the Divisional Commissioner’s office in Nagpur. Senior administrative and police officials are expected to attend the meeting to assess the progress of the probe and discuss regulatory and safety measures.
The SBL Energy Limited blast has triggered widespread concern over industrial safety standards in the region, with questions being raised about compliance, monitoring mechanisms, and emergency preparedness at hazardous manufacturing units operating in and around Nagpur.
Further investigation is underway.
