On Saturday (16th March): The Bombay High Court denied anticipatory bail to a senior official of the Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organization (PESO) implicated in an alleged license scam. The official’s involvement surfaced during investigations into the expedited approval of an application in exchange for bribes.
Mumbai: On Saturday (March 16), the Bombay High Court’s Nagpur bench dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of Purushendra Kumar Dhir Singh, the chief controller of the Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organization (PESO), stating that prima facie involved in an alleged license scam.
Justice Urmila Joshi-Phalke rejected Singh’s pre-arrest bail application on March 13.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) initiated the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) on January 3 under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The FIR lists Ashok Kumar Dalela and Vivek Kumar, both deputy chief controllers of explosives at PESO; Priyadarshan Dinkar Deshpande, a private individual; and Devi Singh Kachhawaha, director of Super Shivshakti Chemical Pvt. Ltd. from Rajasthan, as the accused parties.
During subsequent investigations, the CBI discovered cash amounting to Rs 1.25 crore at Deshpande’s residence, Rs 90 lakh at Vivek Kumar’s premises, and Rs 2.50 lakh at Dalela’s house.
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The evidence suggests the involvement of Purushendra Kumar or P Kumar in the license scam. While not directly named as an accused, Kumar’s name was introduced in the statements made by the accused during interrogation. Allegedly, Deshpande, acting as an intermediary, conspired with PESO officials, including P. Kumar, the approval of an application submitted by Kachhawaha, purportedly in exchange for bribes.
The company aimed to increase its electronic detonator manufacturing capacity up to 75% by March 2024, and purportedly, the accused PESO officers facilitated this by expediting pending work for the company through Kachhawaha.
In court, P Kumar’s counsel, G M Kubade, highlighted his client’s esteemed career, educational qualifications, and long-standing service with PESO.
The CBI’s special advocate, Prashant Kumar Sathianathan, informed the court of the seizure of Rs 5.86 lakh cash from P Kumar’s residence. Additionally, it was revealed during the investigation that the applicant attempted to abscond with his family, facilitated by co-accused Deshpande.
Desphande’s statement to the investigating officer disclosed P Kumar’s involvement in the license scam, alleging that 70% of the bribe was intended for P Kumar, while Dalela and Vivek Kumar were to receive 15% each, with the remaining 15% kept by Deshpande.
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Based on the evidence presented, the court concluded that there was a prima facie indication of Kumar’s involvement in the alleged corruption and thus rejected his application for anticipatory bail.
PESO, headquartered in Nagpur, serves as a key government agency regulating the safety of hazardous substances such as explosives, compressed gases, and petroleum, with the aim of accident prevention.
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